The Decade's Best

The new decade is upon us, and what better time than New Year's Eve to recap the best Buffalo sports moments of the last decade. It's been an up-and-down kind of decade for us as fans - no playoff football, no hockey at all for a year, Stanley Cup playoff runs, and some miracles on and off the playing field. Being a Buffalo sports fan this decade was interesting to say the least, and there was always something to talk about. So for today, I am choosing to focus on the 10 most positive things that happened in the Buffalo sports world over the last 10 years.

As a disclaimer, these are my personal top moments, and they were compiled after much internal deliberation and much discussion with noted experts (ie. my dad). Without further ado, let the happy trip down memory lane begin!

10.) A trio of memorable games: Bills beat Pats 31-0, the Ottawa Brawl and Game 5 of the 2007 EC Semifinals. All three of these games provided something that seemed to be missing a lot in Buffalo sports over the last decade: excitement. When the Bills shutout the Pats to open their season, it was the most excited I've been during a football game this decade. The Ottawa Brawl added even more spark to a rivalry that has defined the decade in a lot of ways for the Sabres, and it proved that we have a coach in Lindy Ruff who is a man with a tough, Buffalo mentality through and through. And I had to include that game against the Rangers because I was there. I saw the Plaza teeming with screaming fans, I heard the car horns in the streets, I felt the energy radiating from every corner of the arena. Here's hoping that the excitement provided in these three games is reflected in the next decade in far more contests and with even more chills, hugs, and cheers.

9.) The Bisons Win the Governor's Cup. In 2004, the Buffalo Bisons took home the Governor's Cup, the championship of the International League. Being there during their postseason run was extremely memorable because I love baseball, and I love when it feels like an important sport in the WNY community. Though the team has struggled lately, for that year they were the best, and isn't that what we always dream of for our sports teams in Buffalo?

8.) March Madness Comes to Buffalo. I was lucky enough to get to see the first round NCAA Tournament action at HSBC Arena in 2007. To see so many people from so many places enjoying what our city had to offer was fantastic, and it was even cooler to see some of the most amazing talents in college basketball right in front of me. As a devout Duke Blue Devils fan, seeing them at their open practice and in a game was an experience I will remember forever. And for the many out there who don't like Duke, I'm sure you will always remember the upset they were handed, one of the most shocking of the past few first rounds, and it happened right in Buffalo.

7.) Bills Hall of Fame Inductees. Though the Bills didn't see the postseason these past 10 years, we were all able to relive a little bit of the Glory Years with the inductions of Jim Kelly, Thurman Thomas, Bruce Smith, Ralph Wilson Jr. and Mary Levy into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I give Thurman the honor of having the best speech - it was funny, moving, and eloquent. While the present looked dim this decade for the Bills, during those days at Canton fans got a reminder of just how proud we should be to be Bills fans.

6.) Bandits Win the NLL Championship. I'm still a little bitter that this came in 2008, the season before I got my season tickets. But when it happened doesn't matter, what matters is that it did happen. In a decade of futility for most of the Buffalo sports scene, the Bandits brought a championship to the city. Lacrosse fans are some the most passionate fans I've ever seen, and it makes me happy to know that they were rewarded with such a great team and a great outcome. I only wish I could have been in the arena to see it happen.

5.) The 2008 NHL Winter Classic.

Need I say more? For one day, the world took notice of our city and liked what it saw. We were passionate, beautiful, and perfect. Even though the game didn't turn out right, the atmosphere of the day was amazing, and it's something we'll all be telling our kids about someday.

4.) Kevin Everett Walks Again. It was a miracle - plain and simple. He should have been paralyzed - or even worse. But there he was, Kevin Everett, walking on the sidelines of the 2008 season opener.

There was no better moment for the Bills this decade, and I don't even know if a trip to the postseaon could have topped it in my eyes.

3.) UB Wins MAAC Championship. The entire 2008 season of UB Bulls football was an incredible journey to behold. From losers to winners, from embarrassed to respected, one season changed the face of college sports in Buffalo like no other. It made Turner Gill a hero and a Buffalo legend, and even though he has deservedly moved on, he will always be remembered for what he did for that program, that season, and the hopes of college football fans in this city.

2.) The Sabres President's Trophy Season. Think about it - what other season this decade had this city so excited from start to finish? We knew from the first 10 games that it was going to be special, and that team didn't let us down until the very end. Did it end poorly? Yes. Does it sometimes hurt to think back on it? Yes. But it was still the happiest I remember this city during the 2000s for such an extended period of time. From the opening win streak to the Ottawa Brawl and Drury's goal with 7.7 seconds left, they took the city for a ride that season - one that brought crowds to the Plaza and brought people together like I never remember seeing for a hockey team before. It was truly something special - something magical.

1.) Pominville's Shorthanded Goal Sends the Sabres to the 2006 Conference Finals. I know this wasn't the best moment of the decade, or maybe even the most memorable. But I think it was the most positive, the happiest. That goal symbolized that entire season - a player no one had heard of, one who everyone else had written off, scored a goal that never really should have happened. But it happened - just like that whole postseason run never really should have happened if you asked people coming out of the lockout about the "new" Sabres. From the looks on the players faces to the cheers coming from living rooms all over WNY, the joy in that moment was the purest joy of the decade in terms of sports. There was nothing to lose in that moment, no downside or doubts. There was only that "scary good" team that changed the perception of hockey in Buffalo - made it important again. Watch the video of it again, and think if there was any other moment this decade, in terms of Buffalo sports, that made you that ridiculously happy. For me, I know that this was it; the hope I felt after that goal was greater than any other time - I thought they could take on the world, and they did their best to put up one heck of a fight to the end.

What were your top moments of the decade? Think I'm crazy for my picks? I'd love to hear your choices!

Finally

Opening night of hockey season is one of my favorite nights of the year. It's like Christmas morning - you could get disappointed with the outcome because you ended up with crappy sweaters instead of the iPhone you wanted, but, in the end, the outcome is almost secondary to the feeling the day brings.

Opening days for sports teams bring out a sense of community like no other day (except the days of playoff games, but those days haven't happened in a while around these parts). At work today, I wore my Pominville shirt, and I had at least 10 people - from grandfathers to moms to little boys - tell me how excited they were for the season to start. It's a day when hope still reigns, and the idea that this year could be the year is still more than just delusion.

We might win tonight, but we might lose, too. What I love about this very moment - an hour before the puck drops - is that wins and losses have no real place yet. This moment belongs to the hope that this game is the start of a journey that will lead to a place that no Buffalo team has ever reached. This moment belongs to the excitement, the nerves, the thrill of being a fan.

Tonight, a new season begins. There are a lot of things we will never expect that will happen, but there are some things that we know will, and I can't wait to see them:

Paul Gaustad jumping to the defense of a teammate

Mike Grier - my favorite Sabre before I found Goose - scoring a hard-working goal and reminding all of Buffalo why we loved his heart

Pat Kaleta rattling the board's and an opponent's body to the thunderous delight of the HSBC Arena crowd

Thomas Vanek scoring a goal that makes the netminder look like a toddler pouting in a corner afterwards

The population of Pominville getting its first resident

Craig Rivet pounding some poor soul into submission for looking at one of our guys the wrong way

Ryan Miller breaking his usual stoicism after a big win with that huge smile that makes him look like a little kid

The list goes on and on, but you get the gist. Some may say hockey season doesn't start in Buffalo until the Bills are done, but I say they're wrong. Hockey season starts now, and I couldn't be more ready.

Let's Go Buffalo.

Long Time No Blog

I'm back!

Not that I really went anywhere...I've just had the busiest non-college-related week of my life. Dance competitions, rehearsals...and my sister's softball team made it to the state championships which start tomorrow in NYC - Congrats Lady Lancers of St. Mary's!

With all that's been going on, I really haven't had much time to even watch the conference finals. It's not too hard to guess who I'm rooting for (if it is...Chicago and Pittsburgh), so I'm happy with one series and sad (but not unexpectedly so) about the other.

As a way of summing up the great amount of hockey that I've missed out on, I present the "Top 5 Revelations I've Had (So Far) During the Conference Finals ":

5.) I really don't hate Sidney Crosby as much as I let on this year. I spent the whole regular season telling myself that Sid was a whiner that I must have been crazy to follow like I did during the 2008 playoffs. Well, absence must make the heart grow fonder because my love for Sid is back in full force. I just like how he has really stepped up in these playoffs, proving that this really is his team. For all the crap he gets about being immature, I think he truly does handle himself well for being put on a pedestal as a role model so young.

Colby would be so happy to read this!

4.) I hate the Carolina Hurricanes more than I let on this year. Really. I hate them. I have such a visceral reaction every time they show footage of Brind'Amour lifting the Stanley Cup that should have been ours - it's like I want to cry and throw up at the same time. Or maybe that's just from his face...Whatever it is, I don't think it's a reaction that's going away any time soon. I'm Polish; I hold grudges like it's my job.

3.) The Chicago Blackhawks have the best mixture of playoff beards ever. From Toews's mutton chops and Kane's peach fuzz to Sharp's mountain man look and Soupy's bright red beard, the Hawks run the gamut in terms of ritual facial hair. Whether it's ruggedly handsome that you're going for or boyishly pathetic, they have something for every taste. In addition, they also have this hilarious video playing up the beard-growing prowess (or lack thereof) of their two biggest stars:

2.) I am still not really over losing Brian Campbell. I say this not because I sit there and wish he was still playing for us with the nostalgia that I save for Briere, Biron and McKee but because I like to pick on him a little too much. It's like that significant other who dumps you and then you try to pick out everything they do wrong and get a kick out doing so...Until it's over a year later and you look more than a little pathetic in your inability to move on. He's playing for the team I want in the West, but I'll be damned if a little part of me doesn't smile inside when he makes some major mistake. I don't want him back, but I don't want him to be a star for anyone else, either. I sound way more than "a little pathetic" now...

1.) I miss Sabres hockey more than last year. Last year, it seemed easier for some reason. Maybe it's because we knew from early on in the season that it wasn't going to be a good year. Maybe it's because we thought missing the postseason was a one-time deal. Whatever the case may be, I was able to transition into playoff hockey a lot easier last year than this year. This year, I find it really hard to keep up a rooting interest in a team or even in the game itself without some level of bitterness towards the Sabres. It's hard to watch other teams progress when I felt for the longest time this season that my team would be in the mix right along with these others. They're not, through no one's fault but their own, and it's difficult to feel no resentment to cities that get to experience the beauty that is hockey in May.

That doesn't mean, though, that I'll stop watching. I have my teams, and I'm starting to get out of my "playoff funk." Expect more posts in the coming days; I really do feel bad for how I've been neglecting my writing and my readers.

Birthday Recap Part II

Three posts in less than 24 hours - I must say that I am very proud of myself!

To conclude the Muckers and Grinders birthday festivities, I bring you a collection of some of the "bests" of the past year of blogging:

Most Hopeful Post: "The Bills Make Me Wanna..." (Nothing like the start of a season to remind you of what it means to be a Buffalo fan)

Best Title: "Paul Gaustad has Given Me Unrealistic Expectations About Men" (Need I say more?)

Most Emotional Posts: "At a Loss" and "Everything We Needed" (The swing in emotions from despair after the crash of Flight 3407 to that euphoric Sabres statement game against the Sharks still gives me goosebumps to think about)

The Best of "Overreaction Central": "In Denial" (Ryan Miller's injury and the team's response to it still gives me this same reaction)

The Best of "Emo Blogging Time": "Waking Up" (Langston Hughes gets Buffalo sports fans like no other poet)

And now, the moment I know you've all been waiting for:

The Best of Google Analytics:
People have found this blog searching for some pretty amusing things. Sure there's the obligatory "jason pominville paul gaustad," "pat kaleta girlfriend," and "paul gaustad shirtless" searches, but there have been some downright fantastic ones as well:

"sports writing locker naked"
"alex ovechkin cannibal bit ear"
"craig rivet's dad"
"jarome iginla good deed"
"jason pominville's favorite color"
"stupid birthday comments"
"their just really good at hockey" (great grammar here as well!)
"when can jason pominville leave the sabres?" (NEVER!!)
"cheap muckers"

Hope you enjoyed those as much as I did!

As a final birthday treat for myself, I started a Twitter: twitter.com/kak01. Feel free to follow even more of my random thoughts!

It's Been a While

I would like to begin this post by apologizing for being a terrible blogger this week; this semester is going to be more intense than even I could have imagined.

There's not much I can really contribute to the conversation about the Sabres right now. They're playing really well. I know they're playing really well. I hope they never stop playing really well.

In all seriousness, I am so pleased with not only the fact that they're winning games but how they're winning those games. Whether it's a blowout like Wednesday or a tight battle like last night, this team has shown up to play in every situation over the last stretch of games.

I know everyone loves to talk about a season's "turning point," but I have to say that this team has been different since that loss to Washington in December. After Goose, Ryan, and the others stated that they were going to hold each other accountable, I've seen a more determined team on the ice every night. Sure, some nights since then haven't been perfect, but I think we can all agree that the thing that matters most, the effort, has been more palpable ever since.

I keep waiting for this to end, for the lazy, uninspired play to start again. I'm anxiously looking at the schedule for games where they could use travel or fatigue as an excuse (yes, I know I'm a masochist). So far, though, the boys haven't taken the bait, coming to work every night - much to my pleasant surprise.

To make up for my six days without posting, I give you six reasons to be really happy with the Sabres right now:

1.) Tim Connolly - I know that Timmy is the hot subject to talk about right now, but I couldn't write a blog about the recent success of this team and not mention him. That goal last night was a thing of beauty, but it's also a thing of regularity when Timmy's in the lineup. This team plays differently with him on the ice. That is why we cannot trade him at the deadline. He makes our team better, and, with the battle to move up in the standings getting more intense every day, we need the best team we can possibly put on the ice. That team only exists with #19 as our center.

2.) Ryan Miller - Have I mentioned how excited I am that we get to keep him for the next five years?

3.) Pat Kaleta - I'm almost as happy as my father to see his man-crush back on the ice. He plays a role on our team that no one else can fill, and I love that guys on the other team know what he's trying to do and still take penalties against him. He's been pretty strong on the PK lately, too.

4.) The Vanek-Connolly-Stafford Line - It's so nice to have a strong #1 scoring line again.

5.) Defense - Spacho's shot finally hit the net. Rivet is bringing the grit and character to the blueline that we got him for. Paetsch looked good out there as a forward yesterday, playing on the strongest line of the night. I've been so impressed with Nate this season; he does what he's asked without whining, and it was nice to see him rewarded with success yesterday.

6.) Paul Gaustad (kind of...) - So I'm extremely depressed about Goose being hurt...again. Indefinitely is a long time. However, many thanks to Amy from SOTC for alerting me to this interview following the Anaheim loss. Ladies, if this doesn't make you smile as a Sabres fan, nothing will:

I don't know about anyone else, but shirtless interviews with Goose just scream journalistic integrity for me. Just keeping it classy over here at M&G.

Tonight, the Sabres take on everyone's favorite team to hate (and, this year, to laugh at), the Ottawa Senators. I just hope Ruutu isn't hungry again...

It's Retrospective Time!

Yesterday may have been the worst day I've ever experienced as a Bills and Sabres fan in terms of combined disgust.

First comes the news of Coach "I lost the challenge flag" Jauron's continued employment. Then, we all get to witness that spectacular display of team apathy and heartlessness by the Sabres. I usually call upon Lindy after games like this to run them into the ground, but I don't think he can do much else with this bunch of divas.

As my father said this morning, I don't want Nate to go back to Portland, but maybe it's better so he doesn't learn bad habits from these players any more than he already has.

So....Now that the ranting is over, I am going to try to be the ray of sunshine after the multiple natural sports disasters that came last night.

My favorite part of New Year's Eve is the year-end, retrospective lists. Therefore, I have decided to combine my love of countdowns with my need for a pick-me-up.

I present you with My Favorite Buffalo Sports Moments of 2008:

10.) The Sabres Signings of Summer '08. Tim Kennedy. Chris Butler. Nate Gerbe. Danny Paille. Paul Gaustad. Jason Pominville. Ryan Miller. Patrick Lalime. Craig Rivet. After the previous summer and the departure of Brian Campbell in February, it was nice to see the Sabres adding people rather than letting people go. Each of these players has contributed to the team this season, some (Craig Rivet) more than others (Tim Kennedy). Some signings made me happy for personal reasons (Goose and Gerbe) while others made a strong statement to the entire NHL (Miller). All in all, it was nice to be happy every time I heard Darcy this summer rather than holding back tears like the year before.

9.) Craig Rivet's First Game at HSBC Arena. There were many nice things about the Sabres preseason victory over the Leafs. It was my little cousin's first NHL game, and I got to be the one to take her. We got to see the boys looking all spiffy in their suits on the red carpet. The Sabres pulled off another improbable comeback to force overtime and beat a heated rival, even if it was only in the preseason. The best thing about this game, however, was its status as Craig Rivet's coming out party. Rivet pounded Ryan Hollweg into oblivion for grazing Ryan Miller, and the entire crowd seemed to fall in love at first sight. That one act said volumes in the locker room as well, with Rivet finally ending the rotating captaincy by being named permanent leader.

8.) The Buffalo Bills Beat the San Diego Chargers 23-14 and Improve to 5-1. At the time, I thought that this game was our "statement game." Trent was recovering from being knocked out of the game against Arizona, the first loss of the season. Then, the Bills delivered this complete win over a team that, while struggling, still had a reputation as an AFC powerhouse. With the win, the team improved to an impressive 5-1 record, and that was the last time I felt really good about football in Buffalo in 2008.

7.) Pat Kane Wins Calder Trophy. It's always nice to see a hometown kid succeed, especially one who doesn't forget where he comes from. Moving from a little kid playing in rinks in South Buffalo and West Seneca to owning opponents from Carolina to Edmonton, Patrick Kane has become a household name in more places than Western New York. To see him recognized as the Rookie of the Year was a proud moment for anyone from WNY. It was especially touching when he thanked the people of Buffalo for supporting him because it showed that little Kaner really hasn't forgotten his roots. I can't wait to see even more big things from him in 2009 - as long as it's not against the Sabres, of course.

6.) The Two Sabres Comebacks Vs. the Lightning. In a season lacking special moments, these two games provided Sabres fans with something to cheer about. I was at the arena for the first of these two games, both led by hat tricks from Thomas Vanek. In a 4-3 OT victory, Vanek scored three consecutive goals to cap a furious late-game comeback, including his first two only 36 seconds apart at the end of the third period. The second comeback may be my favorite game of last season. Losing 4-1 going into the third, Paul Gausatd and Jason Pominville began a scoring avalanche that would produce 6 third period goals, including three by Vanek once again. Yes, I know it was against Tampa, but thinking about those two games still makes me smile, and on a day like today, smiling is certainly needed.

5.) The 2008 Bills Season Opener (Bills 34, Seahawks 10). Remember when the whole football world was at our fingertips and the AFC East seemed to be ours for the taking? Yeah, I barely do, too, but what a great feeling it was. Trent was the next Jim Kelly. We played smashmouth defense. We called trick plays. Tom Brady was hurt and then suddenly it was like the heavens opened up on One Bills Drive. I know that nothing can ease the pain that the rest of the season brought, but it is nice to remember that, for just one day, the Bills were able to pleasantly surprise us.

4.) The Buffalo Sabres Season Opener (Sabres 2, Canadiens 1, SO). Remember when the Sabres earned points in their first 8 games, looking like they had exorcised all of the demons of last season? Yeah, I barely do, too, but it did happen and was lots of fun to watch. They played Lindy's system to perfection, cleared the net for Ryan, and took the ice with heart, grit, and a chip on their shoulders. I can only hope that this memory sticks with them too because they need to find that team again in order to make 2009 a better year than 2008 for Sabres fans.

3.) The 2008 Winter Classic / Ice Bowl. I know, I know - we lost to Sidney Crosby in a shootout. Still, though, when you look back on that day, is that one of the first things you remember? I'm thinking it's not. What I'll remember is the sight of over 70,000 fans watching a hockey game all in one place, the sight of Ralph Wilson Stadium looking like a Christmas card, with flakes softly falling like a snowglobe. I'll remember tearing up when Ronan Tynan sang, and, for one day, I knew that people around the world were getting to see what I've learned every day - that Buffalo is a truly amazing place.

2.) The Buffalo Bandits Win the NLL Championship. Finally - a championship comes to Buffalo! It may not have been in the way we expected, but the Bandits made Buffalo the home of a champion. NLL fans are some of the most intense in pro sports, and it was great to see the members of "Banditland" rewarded for their passion. I have season tickets this year, and I can't wait to cheer them on to a repeat!

1.) The Entire 2008 Season of UB Bulls Football. From the Hail Mary pass to the MAC Championship, it's been an amazing ride for anyone who has watched the Bulls this season. What Turner Gill has done is nothing shot of miraculous, and I could not respect a coach more than I respect him. I'll admit that I am not the biggest college football fan, but this team sucked me in, and I am so glad that they did. Turner Gill gave Buffalo a team that we can proud of, a group that is as blue-collar as they come. They play with heart, grit, and boundless determination, just like their coach. I can only hope that 2009 starts where 2008 left off, with a character- driven group of underdogs proving everyone but themselves wrong.

I hope everyone has a very safe and happy New Year's Eve and New Year's Day! Feel free to share your list of favorite moments with me, too, I'd love to hear what I'm sure I missed.

Happy Holidays!

Today is my favorite day of the year. Ever since I was a little kid, I've always loved Christmas Eve. Between the big Polish dinner we make tonight and opening gifts with all of my cousins, this is always the day I dream about what will be under the tree tomorrow morning.

In that spirit, I present you with my Buffalo Sports Christmas list for the coming year (and Santa, if you're reading this, all of us tortured Buffalo fans have been very good again this year, despite our teams' circumstances).

All I want for Christmas is...

* A healthy Buffalo Sabres lineup for the first time in a long time

* A Bills win over the Patriots on Sunday. I would love nothing more than to knock them out of the playoffs.

* A new coach for the Buffalo Bills (preferably someone with more than one facial expression)

* Paul Gaustad to return to the ice as soon as possible

* A way for Nate Gerbe and Chris Butler to stay up with the big club

* A veteran backup quarterback behind Trent Edwards next season

* To see Maxim Afinogenov in another team's jersey come deadline day (if not sooner)

* A goal scored by Jason Pominville that isn't an empty-netter

* Thomas Vanek to take back the lead in goals from Jeff Carter

* More interviews with Jaro Spacek using the word "pigeon"

* To see all of the years of heartbreak and dreams of "next year" fade into oblivion with that first championship.

* A safe, healthy, and happy holiday season for all of the Buffalo Bloggers and our readers.

Merry Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa or whatever it is you celebrate)! May you and your families have a joyous holiday season!

Nothing says Happy Holidays like puppy nap buddies!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things that I'm thankful for today, as a Buffalo sports fan:

*Waking up this morning with both the Bills and Sabres as winners in their last games. It feels like it's been a long time since we've been able to see that.

*Knowing that the guys I'm cheering for are both good players and good people. Whether it's Brian Moorman's PUNT foundation or Donte Whitner's work with the United Way, the Bills are working to endear themselves to this city that loves them so much. With the Sabres, their charity work is one of the reasons I love them beyond all reasonable limits. Between Ryan Miller's Steadfast Foundation, Goose's work with Camp Good Days, Thomas Vanek's new partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, and all the other work these boys do for Buffalo, it makes me happy to know that not all professional athletes are selfish jerks. We're pretty lucky when it comes to having people on our teams that are easy to root for.

*Goose being reunited with his roomie and BFF Pommer on a line yesterday. I didn't see the game, but I do like the way they play together. Goose adds a little toughness to Pommer's finesse.

*The fact that I finally decided on a jersey, and let's just say that I think Goose would be happy with my choice of a certain nap buddy of his:

I hope I look as good in his jersey as he looks in a tux.

I promise to have more on the extreme soul-searching that went into this decision sometime tomorrow.

*The fact that, hopefully, Derek Roy is remembering how a puck gets shot into a net.

*The wonderful reception I've got in my first few months as a blogger. Seriously, I cannot thank all of my readers enough. I started this as simply a place to release the emotions that tend to well up in me over our sports teams. I never expected to have people respond so kindly to the things I write. It's nice to have a little place to call our own as Buffalo fans, and I'm thankful that it's populated with such great writers and readers. Thanks again everyone for making me feel so welcome in this little world.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families!

Like a Kid On Christmas

The title for this post sums up my feelings about tonight perfectly. I honestly was having trouble sleeping last night for reasons other than midterms.

It's finally here. The day we've waited for since April has finally come. It's Hockey Night in Buffalo once again.

It's funny when you try to measure your life in hockey seasons, matching each one up with specific time in your life. Though times have changed, it's great to see that every opening night feels the same since I was a little kid. No matter what happened the previous season, be it President's Trophy or early golfing, the opening night is always one of optimism and excitement. There's always that voice in the back of your head that, despite your best intentions, keeps whispering What if this is the start of our year?

I'm a very detail-oriented person, and it's the little things that often matter the most to me, so it seems fitting that the things that have me most excited would be many of the things that may seem ridiculous and minuscule compared to everything else a new season has to offer.

I can't wait for...

"Hurricane 2000" to come blasting from my TV, getting my pulse racing for another game

The first time Pat Kaleta draws a penalty and my dad yells from the other room "I love that kid!"

Craig Rivet to take the ice, wearing the "C" proudly, ready to punch anyone in the face who even so much as looks at one of our guys the wrong way

The sound of the goal horn

Lindy's frank and oftentimes witty postgame comments

Jaro Spacek's unintelligible voice to grace my ears

The Pominville Population to get its first resident this season

Mike Robitaille's cranky words of wisdom and emphatic hand gestures

The first time you hear the "Drewwww" and "Gooooose" chants in the arena (though I may have to wait awhile for the latter)

The sight of Roy and Vanek on a 2-1 and knowing their going to score

The typical MSG commercials, wondering which is going to be the "real good, Steve" or "Wizard of 'Za" of this year

The sight of Tim Connolly quarterbacking our powerplay once again and feeling like we really do have a man advantage

Looking at Ryan Miller's eyes through his mask and seeing a whole different person in his intense focus

The sound of an opposing player crashing into the boards

The first opponent to get booed at HSBC this year

The first time one of our guys sticks up for a teammate, which I feel will happen a lot more this season

The first big win that makes the guys pile over the boards, when you know that they live for playing for and with one another

I hope that last one comes tonight, but if it doesn't, it's not the end of the world. It's a long season, and I don't know what I'd do without it.

Forget December, this is the "most wonderful time of the year"

Let's Go Buffalo!

Sorry I Haven't Posted - I've Been Watching the Olympics

I know that the reason I got a blog in the first place was to talk about the sports I was watching, but I've honestly been so sucked in by the Olympics that I've neglected my computer for the first time in a long time.

To show my remorse for this, I present a smattering of Olympic Lists:

Favorite Moment of the Games (so far):

1.) The Men's 4 x 100 Freestyle Relay. I am big fan of classifying things as "the best EVER," but, seriously, that relay was the greatest Olympic event I have ever seen. There was just so much great drama about it - the French talking trash (I don't know why that idea made me giggle, but it did), the "Michael Phelps medal quest" angle, the fact that we had to come from behind to win. I loved how the commentator was talking about the fact that he could see no scenario where the US could win gold. I guess he wasn't expecting Jason "Clutch" Lezak. By the final leg of the relay, I was screaming at my TV in a way usually reserved for hockey games. The elation on their faces may be my lasting image of these games.

2.) The Men's Gymnastics Team Winning Bronze. I think this was the happiest I'd ever seen an American team to win bronze. Why shouldn't they have been overjoyed? They were missing two of their best gymnasts in the Hamm brothers, and everyone had pretty much written them out of medal contention. Jonathan Horton may be the cutest male gymnast I've ever seen. He has such an earnest face, and his strength and leadership was such a huge part of that victory. What I liked best, though, was that, like in the swimming relay, this was a team win. You got to see the guys get genuinely happy for one another, and you got to see how serious they take their role as representatives of the US.

3.) Eric Shanteau's Personal Best Swim. For anyone who hasn't heard this amazing story, Eric was diagnosed with testicular cancer before the Olympic trials. He decided to put off surgery in order to compete in Beijing. In the qualifiers for the 200-meter breaststroke, he swam a personal best time of 2 minutes, 10.10 seconds. He failed to make it to the finals, but seeing his smile after finishing brought tears to my eyes. He got to accomplish his dream of swimming for his country in the Olympic games, and that was all that mattered to him. Get well, soon, Eric, I know you've got a lot of people praying for you.

And now, because this is such a professional blog, I give you:

The Most Attractive Olympians:

1.) Justin Spring, USA Gymnastics

2.) Michael Phelps, USA Swimming (and Gold Medal Machine)

...and for the male readers

3.) Jennie Finch, USA Softball (really, I just want to be her so bad - she's good at everything!):

Now, I must finish packing for the family trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. I'll be gone until the 23rd, but I will hopefully have some blogging time. Feel free to e-mail me (or Facebook me) to keep me up-to-date on all things Buffalo sports and Olympic goodies.

Things I'd Like to See While I'm Gone:

1.) Michale Phelps wins 8 gold medals.

2.) USA softball takes home the gold in its last Olympics (which is ridiculous, if you ask me).

3.) USA beats China in the medal count.

4.) Jason Peters starts talking to the Bills.

5.) Jason Pominville is signed and made Captain.

100 Things: The Big Finale

I've decided that I really dislike two things:

1.) The rain

2.) Boring football games

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited to see Poz out there on the field again, but I think my last trip to the dentist was more enthralling than the snooze-fest that was last night's Bills-Redskins game. I was, however, happy to see JP throw that touchdown and 2-point conversion. I always loved him and his spacey look and aversion to throwing accurate, short passes - that love will never die.

I was saved from the boring game by Michael Phelps and many lovely birthday gifts from my family and friends. My personal favorites have been season's tickets to the Bandits from my two best friends and...

...a signed picture of Sid's favorite and mine - Colby Armstrong! Did I ever mention how cool my sister is? I'll post a picture of my picture tomorrow!

In honor of turning the big 2-0, I shall share with you all the final 25 random facts about me that you will never need to know (though there may be a test later):

76.) My favorite summer Olympic sport is the individual medley in swimming or softball. In the winter, it's hockey or pairs figure skating (feel free to laugh).

77.) My sister says I have no "indoor voice." I inherited that from my father and my aunts.

78.) I have two godmothers and no godfather. My mother wanted her sister to be my godmother and my dad only has sisters (4 of them), so the roots of my feminism were set down at an early age.

79.) My favorite place on Earth is the auditorium at St. Mary's High School in Lancaster. I have more good memories of that place than any other in my life.

80.) I think I may be legally blind. Seriously, people with bad vision always think I'm exaggerating until they put my glasses up to their eyes.

81.) My top five favorite books are: 1.) The Great Gatsby 2.) To Kill a Mockingbird 3.) Their Eyes Were Watching God 4.) any book in the Harry Potter series (especially Prisoner of Azkaban) 5.) Twilight

82.) I don't sing in the shower but I LOVE to sing in the car.

83.) If I was on Dancing with the Stars my dream dances would be a cha-cha to "Smooth" by Rob Thomas and Santana and a waltz to "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan. I would dance with Maks of course!

84.) My favorite food is lasagna, but I could live on just eating breakfast.

85.) I'm a huge literary geek who looks for symbolism everywhere. I also subconsciously edit everything I read (a habit I got from my mom).

86.) I love taking pictures and have about 15 picture frames. I believe that all memories should be captured.

87.) I'm addicted to Facebook like the worst kind of junkie.

88.) I have a bit of a potty mouth. I'm not sure when it developed, but I think high school had something to do with it.

89.) I'm an extremely emotional person who cries at pretty much everything, especially A Walk to Remember and Moulin Rouge. I have to turn off The Notebook before it gets to the sad part because I can't take it.

90.) I was a theater geek in high school. I performed in three plays and four musicals in high school. My favorites were The Dining Room and Seussical: The Musical.

91.) I have the hardest time spelling "definitely." I think it's the second "i" that throws me.

92.) I have a very distinct "signature face" that I make in way too many pictures:

93.) If I could marry any man (who doesn't play hockey or football) it would be Justin Timberlake. Nothing is hotter to me than a man who can dance.

94.) My favorite sound is the ocean or the crescendo of an orchestra.

95.) My favorite scent is the smell of wood (like Home Depot).

96.) I'm the only older sibling who shows up regularly at my sister's softball games, and I take pride in that fact.

97.) My five favorite movies are: Beauty and the Beast, Singin' in the Rain, Wedding Crashers, Miracle, and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.

98.) If one quote could define my attitude about life it would be: "Dance like nobody's watching. Love like you'll never be hurt. Sing like nobody's listening. Live like it's heaven on Earth." by William H. Purkey.

99.) My best sports memory is being at HSBC Arena for Game 5 of the 2007 EC Semis vs. the Rangers. I will never stop thanking my dad for giving away his tickets to me and my best friend.

100.) I've always been known as someone who writes too much, way more than is necessary. If I've done that here, thanks for bearing with me.

Katie Goes to Training Camp (Finally!)

Sorry for the terrible delay in my posting. My sister's softball tournament in Rochester this past weekend went far better than anyone expected, as in, they won the whole thing! I was such a proud big sister, and I must say that she had a pretty impressive weekend. She hit in the tying RBI that brought one game to extra innings, and made several awesome plays in the outfield in the semis and the finals.

So, congratulations West Seneca Magic on a great season (and if you're browsing this Amy, I'm very proud of you...again...)

Between unpacking from the trip, packing for my next one (10 days in South Carolina starting next Thursday), and buying books for Canisius, I've had very little time to do anything.

Until now, that is, when I can present to you a photo recap of my Bills Training Camp Experience 2008.

First of all, someone should tell the Bills that those buses that they have to shuttle people to St. John Fisher are HOT and humid. My pulse was racing before I even got to meet Paul Pozluszny. Here, Amy and I sweat it out on the ride to campus:

Once we got there, we met up with my aunt, uncle, and three younger cousins to watch the practice. This, for me, meant watching for good-looking guys and scouting for my fantasy drafts.

I saw many things at camp that impressed me more that I expected. Some of these being:

• Poz's propensity to turn his very nice posterior to me whenever I had my camera ready. I was also very surprised by how much he really is ALL MUSCLE. I don't think there's an ounce of fat on his body:
  
• The fact that JP Losman still does exist! It was like seeing your ex-boyfriend, who took the breakup really badly, while you're busy gushing over your new guy (that would be you, Trent)


• How gorgeous Trent Edwards really is. I know he gained muscle weight in the offseason to help his game, but I think it's helping more than that...
  


• How nice Josh Reed is. My uncle has his jersey (I'm still not sure why), and Reed ran over to us when he saw it, taking time to talk to my uncle about the upcoming season and joke about how few people have his jersey.
  
• The fact that Jon Corto has such a good sense of humor. He's the safety from Orchard Park who spent last season on the practice squad. He's back again this year, and his family was at camp. When my cousin wished him good luck this season, his mom said "Let's just hope he makes it first!" He seemed to just be happy to have a chance to hang with the big boys of the NFL and to play at home. He was a big hit with the autograph-seekers, including one girl who had him call her friend, which he played along with shockingly well.


• Just how flustered I got when Poz was within inches of me. My hands were pretty much shaking when I handed him my jersey, and I've never gotten that jittery (and I've talked to Pommer, Goose, and Derek Roy before). All those nerves went away though, when we had what I now refer to as our "moment":

Me: Good luck this season; can't wait to see you out there.
Poz: (looks at me with his beautiful eyes) Thanks so much!

Now anyone who can speak "Poz" knows that what he was really saying was "You're Polish, you like football, and you read more books than I do. Will you marry me?" However, I was too blinded by his sheer manliness to actually accept his proposal. If you're reading this now, Poz, I accept!

Tomorrow, I hope to have the conclusion of my "100 Things" list ready to post. In the meantime, I'm off to read more of Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, it's "that vampire book. " If you haven't read it, go to your nearest library and get it - you'll be glad you did!

100 Things: Episode III

The family and I went to training camp for the Bills yesterday and had a blast. I took a lot of pictures, which will hopefully be up sometime tomorrow or Monday, as I'm going to Rochester for another softball tournament for my sister overnight.

To tide you over until I can provide you with a Paul Posluszny fix, I bring you the continuation of "100 Things - Katie Style":

51.) I believe that I learned about the two sides of the human race from my two favorite books - To Kill a Mockingbird (the good side of humanity) and The Great Gatsby (the dark side).

52.) I can quote every line in the film That Thing You Do! (including all of the songs).

53.) I'm a constant worrier.

54.) I've visited the campus of Duke University twice (with a third time coming in about 2 weeks). It was my dream school, but I didn't get accepted.

55.) If I could go back to any time in my life, it would be the last six months of my Senior year of high school and the summer before college.

56.) I'm a musical theater junkie. I've seen RENT, Wicked, and Mama Mia two times each (and I'm hopefully going to see RENT a third time this January). Those three are probably my favorite shows, with Aida thrown in as well.

57.) My first crush was on Zach Morris on Saved by the Bell.

58.) If I was stranded on a desert island and could only have one food with me, it would be Buffalo Wing Goldfish crackers.

59.) The 24-hours from 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve to 4 p.m. on Christmas Day is my favorite day of the year.

60.) I go to Church every week. There's just something so peaceful about it.

61.) My favorite poem is "I Carry Your Heart With Me" by ee cummings. I used it to close my Valedictorian speech at my graduation.

62.) My top five favorite songs (at the moment) are: "Let it Be" (The Beatles), "Hallelujah" (the Rufus Wainwright version), "Sexyback" (Justin Timberlake), "Lifetime" (Beth Hart), and "She Will be Loved" (Maroon 5).

63.) I come from a very close, very proud, Polish family. My two oldest cousins on my mom's side are like my big brothers, and we all get together once a week for dinner at my grandma's house (and a hockey game when it's during the season).

64.) I'm addicted to Facebook.

65.) I go see every Pixar movie that comes out. Wall-E and Finding Nemo are the best.

66.) I love Audrey Hepburn. I have a purse, a makeup case, a charcoal sketch, and a calendar of her. To me, she epitomizes glamour and class.

67.) I wrote a 28-page paper during my Junior year of high school on women in the 1920s. Sometimes I wish I could have been a flapper.

68.) I believe F. Scott Fitzgerald was right when he wrote: "Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall." It's my favorite season.

69.) One of the most rewarding experiences of my life was dancing onstage in Disney World with my competition team last summer.

70.) My nervous habit is biting my lip or playing with my earrings.

71.) I still have the same group of best friends that I had in high school, and we try to get together as much as possible.

72.) I can't cook. I guess I can follow recipes, but I'm no Betty Crocker.

73.) Kathy Griffin is my favorite comedian.

74.) One of my favorite things to do is walk through the Quad at Canisius in late summer or early fall, in the morning when there's practically no one there. It makes me glad that I chose that school.

75.) I drive a black 2008 Chevy Cobalt and my best friend has a matching blue one (she got hers first).

100 Things - Part Deux

If this enough enough to satisfy your list-fix, check out last night's musings on the many reasons Craig Rivet should love it in Buffalo.

26.) I took French for two semesters in college but can remember more from what I've learned in dance class than at Canisius.

27.) I've wanted to be a writer since I was 8 years old. I wrote a 10-page journal entry about our field trip to the Naval Park, and my teacher told me I should be a journalist. I haven't looked back since.

28.) It took me 18 years to figure it out, but my father and I have the same personality. We sound like echoes of each other during a sporting event.

29.) Asking me to choose between Starbucks and Tim Horton's is like asking me to choose between Goose and Pommer.

30.) When at the aforementioned establishments, I order one of the following: at Starbucks, a tall Caramel Macchiato or White Chocolate Mocha; at Tim's, a Small Cafe Mocha or Iced Cappuccino.

31.) I have a list of words that I love to use when writing, and "aforementioned" as at the top.

32.) Both my iPod and digital camera are hot pink.

33.) The main TV in our house is 25 years old and hasn't broken yet.

34.) I have the smallest feet (size 5 - 5 1/2) of anyone I know.

35.) I've had the same best friend for 5 years, and I can honestly say that we've never really fought.

36.) I HATE calling people on the phone. Picking up the phone is fine; it's the calling that makes me freak out.

37.) When I was a little girl, I wanted to be Princess Leia from Star Wars.

38.) For all the books I read, I don't use fancy bookmarks. A scrap of paper or movie ticket is fine with me.

39.) I still wish on stars and when I blow out my candles on my birthday cake.

40.) I'm a bit of a Harry Potter fanatic. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger are my two favorite literary characters of all time.

41.) My Senior quote in my high school yearbook was by the Muppets: "Life's like a movie, write your own ending."

42.) If I had to only have two TV stations, they would be ESPN and Bravo.

43.) My favorite reality show is So You Think You Can Dance. Cat Deeley is 10,000x cooler than Ryan Seacrest.

44.) I got my driver's license when I was 19, and I still am not a huge fan of driving where I'm not familiar. I do, however, love driving into a sunrise or sunset with a good song on the radio or my iPod.

45.) I have two ringtones on my phone. They are "Sexyback" by Justin Timberlake and "Finale B" from RENT.

46.) My pinkie toe on my left foot is permanently facing the side from breaking it in pointe class and not taping it.

47.) I once dated an exchange student from Germany, whose crazy acts of chivalry still make me want to move to Europe sometimes.

48.) I own more sunglasses than most people have shoes.

49.) My favorite actors are Denzel Washington (current) and Jimmy Stewart (all-time). My favorite actresses are Reese Witherspoon (current) and Audrey Hepburn (all-time).

50.) I'm not superstitious until it comes to sports. Then, there is a specific chair I have to sit in, clothes I have to wear, and restrictions I must follow (the Sabres ski cap and earrings cannot be worn during games because they are bad luck).

Learning to Love Us: The Craig Rivet Story

First of all, I must offer an apology for my false advertising. Responsible journalist that I am, I got my days mixed up and thought I was going to training camp today when I am actually going tomorrow. Rest assured, tomorrow night there will be a full recap of all the festivities (meaning the stuff I actually paid attention to - like the autographs and how good Poz and Trent look).

Instead of football, tonight my focus is once again on my beloved boys in Blue and Gold, specifically, the newest member of the team, Mr. Craig Rivet (I say "Mr." because, I'll be honest, I've watched some of his fights, and he scares me a little bit).

I'll admit, I was nervous with the lack of quotes from Mr. Rivet after he was traded here. Eternal pessimist that I am, I figured he was not extremely happy about his new circumstances.

My fears were only slightly eased with Bucky Gleason's latest column, featuring the first information from our newest mucker and grinder on his opinion of the trade. I'm torn between feeling inadequate because, once again, someone from a "big city" thinks that Buffalo is just one big zit on the face of New York and feeling happy that he is open and ready for that opinion to change.

To help with his Buffalo education, I present to Mr. Craig Rivet Katie's Reasons Why Buffalo Should Appeal to a Feisty Hockey Player/Doting Dad Like Himself:

1.) Cheap Houses. Mr. Rivet has already experienced that wonderful phenomenon called "If Buffalo was a girl, she'd be a really cheap date." He said he's looking for a 5,000 square-foot house for $2 million. Little did he know that he could get a house twice that size for half the price. If he wanted to spend a little more, he could probably buy the whole town of West Seneca.

2.) It's Good for the Kiddies. I think Mr. Rivet has three kids (if I'm wrong, I apologize), and I know that there is no better place for them to grow up than right here. We have great schools, but there are other reasons why so many players like raising their youngins here (Hank, Toni, Teppo, Spacho, Marty, Lindy...). People in Buffalo just seem nicer than people from other places; it's not hard to teach good manners when you're living in a place that's called "The City of Good Neighbors."

3.) Food, Food, Food. If the quickest way to a man's heart is through his stomach, then Buffalo will win his heart in no time. From wings at the Anchor Bar (or Duff's) to Mighty Taco to ice cream at Anderson's, there are never-ending culinary options, from the upscale (The Buffalo Chophouse) to the greasy-but-great (Louie's) to the hockey player staple (Chef's).

4.) The Boys Can Keep Him Young. Bucky wrote that Mr. Rivet is already excited about the young promise of our team. Little does he know just how great a place this will be to hone his leadership skills. He can make sure that Timmy doesn't hurt himself picking up girls at SoHo. He can finally teach Pie to tie his skates. He can make sure that Goose and Pommer don't stay up the whole night watching "buddy movies" and sharing deep secrets. Seriously, though, we have a fun and exciting team here who all really love this city, and I think he'll find that infectious.

5.) We're Pretty Much Canadians, Just Like Him. Buffalo is pretty much a Canadian town, which is exactly where Mr. Rivet grew up. We drink Labatt and Molson's. Our kids grow up playing hockey. There's snow for Christmas. Finally, there's Tim Horton's, and if that isn't a selling point, then I don't know what is.

6.) Buffalo and Mr. Rivet are Kindred Spirits. Hockey is our passion, and much of that passion is derived from everything Craig Rivet seems to be. We love players who work hard, own up to the media, stick up for each other, and lead in the community. This seems to be our newest player in every aspect. His game is about flying under the radar and working hard to be the best player he can be, which also happens to be how Buffalo gets by.

Mr. Rivet, if those reasons aren't good enough for you, just watch some videos of our Parties in the Plaza, and you'll see just how great a hockey town you are now a part of.

Tomorrow morning, I'll add to my "100 Things" list. I figured this was "list-y" enough for tonight.

Jumping on the Bandwagon

While I've been off celebrating my dad's birthday, I've apparently been zapped of all good blogging ideas. Therefore, I shall do what all good bloggers do, steal ideas from people way cooler and more creative than I am (giving credit where credit is due, of course).

Thanks to the fantastic ladies over at Sabretooth's House for alerting me to this swoon-inducing video of Paul Gaustad and Danny Paille playing street hockey with the kids from Camp Good Days. For the ladies reading: I am not responsible for the spontaneous fainting and heart palpitations caused by the viewing of this video.

I can't decide what I like best about this video: how adorably focused Danny gets when he's playing, how excited Goose is that he knows some of the kids by name after working with them for the last year, or how happy everyone involved seems. It's nice to see that Goose and Danny seem as genuinely excited to be playing as the kids do. This combines two of the things I love most about hockey - athletes who genuinely like to help kids and Paul Gaustad.

The next phase of today's post comes from two of my favorite bloggers - M.J. over at My Safety is Harvard and Heather B. at Top Shelf. Both of them have been writing a "100 Things" series of random facts about themselves. I think if two of my favorites are doing it and doing it so entertainingly, maybe I should give it a try. So, if you're desperate for more information about the crazy girl who writes this blog, read on:

My Own 100 Things - Part 1:
1.) I'm one of the few people I know that would choose to live in Buffalo when presented with any other option. Buffalo has been my home for my entire life, and I cannot imagine myself living any place else. When I graduate, I would love to do something to help bring young professionals to Western New York.

2.) I've gone to Catholic Schools my whole life, from elementary school to high school and now in college (Canisius College). However, I have never gone to an all-girls' school, and I never would have survived if I had.

3.) My mother is who I got my love of hockey from. She's been a Sabres fan since 1970, and even traveled to Montreal for a playoff game in high school. Her favorite Sabre of all time? Jim Schoenfeld.

4.) I'm at my happiest when I'm dancing. The list of styles I've dabbled in includes tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, hip hop, musical theater, pointe, and modern.

5.) I work at a library, stocking the shelves, and I think it's the greatest part-time job on Earth, even if I do get mocked for my "nerdy job."

6.) I'm going to be 20 in about two weeks, but I look about 16. People tell me I'll be thankful for that someday, but right now it's no fun.

7.) I have a sister five years younger than I am, but she is, without question, my best friend.

8.) I'm a classic over-achiever, which is reflected in my dual major (English and Communication Studies) and Honors Program work.

9.) If I could live in any store for the rest of my life it would be Borders.

10.) I've gone to Disney World about 15 times in my life. My favorite park is EPCOT, and my favorite ride is Test Track.

11.) I've only been on a plane once in my life (when I was 3 years old). I think I've seen more of the East Coast by car than anyone I know.

12.) I wanted to be movie critic for about 2 years, until I realized that I'm not critical enough. I still love movies and film history, though.

13.) Now, I want to be a sports journalist, which I'm perfecting by writing for the Canisius paper.

14.) I would try to make my way as a professional tap dancer if I thought I was good enough; Gene Kelly is my hero.

15.) Beauty and the Beast was the first movie I ever saw in theaters, and it is still one of my favorite films.

16.) This summer alone, I've read seven books.

17.) If I could eat dinner with any three people, they would be Princess Diana, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Audrey Hepburn.

18.) My grandfather got a letter to try out for the St. Louis Cardinals as a shortstop. He chose the Army instead.

19.) I read for symbolism even when I'm reading for fun.

20.) I cried when Alias (that spy show with Jennifer Garner) ended.

21.) The best concert I ever went to was Justin Timberlake at HSBC in February 2007.

22.) Ever since I was 15, I can't wake up in the morning without reading the paper at breakfast (usually the sports section).

23.) If I could write papers for a living, I would.

24.) Where most girls spend all their money on shoes or purses, my weakness is good makeup; too much of my paycheck goes to Sephora.

25.) The proudest moment of my life was watching the girls I taught this year perform their ballet dance at our recital. One of the girls had Down Syndrome, and seeing her out there smiling was one of the highlights of my life.

Sorry if I bored anyone. Tomorrow watch for Katie Goes to Training Camp - A Photo Essay.

He Likes Us, He Really Likes Us

Because I love lists, I bring you five interesting things I learned at Ryan Miller's press conference yesterday (which can be found on sabres.com):

1. Ryan looked good. I don't mean that in a puck-bunny "ohmyGodRyanMillerissohawt" kind of way (no offense, Ryan, I can't get past the eyebrows). I mean, he looked the way I've always wanted to see him look - happy. Summer looks good on him; he looks rested and he may even have added some weight to that supermodel-skinny body he was dragging on the ice for the last few weeks of the season. He looked genuinely happy throughout the whole press conference, which I take to mean he is genuinely happy to be playing here for the next six years.

This adorable photo courtesy of the Derek Gee of The Buffalo News

2. I've found the greatest words in the English language, and they are as follows:

"I'd trade all the money in the world to bring a championship here, and to accomplish something with my group of friends, my teammates."

Hearing Ryan say this literally brought tears to my eyes (I know, I'm a crybaby). It just feels like we've waited for so long for someone to say that winning a championship for us is priceless. As Sabres fans, we've been burned by "fan favorites" who've left us in search of the big paycheck, a quick chance at success, or a bigger name team. For once, we have a star player who understands that the pride of being the first to bring us the win we've always dreamed of will be better than any amount of money.

3. There's a definite method to Darcy's madness. Darcy has always talked about the importance of keeping the "core" of our team together. I believe that, in order for that to have happened, we could never have kept Drury, Briere, and Campbell. Now, looking at it with all that was said yesterday, I'm not sure they were the best for the team in the long run, anyway. Ryan said over and over again that he loves the Sabres because he gets to go to work with his best friends. Those guys from the 2004-2005 Amerks are like family, and what they have is rare in pro sports. They've grown up together, and they've dreamed of winning the Cup together. I can only hope that they get to accomplish that all together because I feel like that would be such a unique and emotional moment for them and for all of us who got to watch them grow together. I think Darcy said it best:

"I do believe that when Ryan signs, Paul [Gaustad] signs and you’ve got [Thomas] Vanek and [Derek] Roy and others, that group is together...The dressing room is a big deal. It’s a big deal to walk into the room and say, ‘I like that guy, I like that guy, I like that guy.’ It’s a bigger deal to say you trust them and a bigger deal again to say you’ll go to work for them.”

4. I fully expect Jason Pominville to be signed before training camp. Now that Pommer is Darcy's number one priority, I can't imagine negotiations will take too long before one more piece of that brotherly "core" is locked up long-term. Jason seems very similar to both Ryan Miller and Paul Gaustad in his loyalty to the team that drafted him, the team he grew up on. He's part of that Rochester group that seems so inseparable, Goose's roommate for the last seven years. I can't wait for the next press conference, announcing that Jason is signed and has been named our fearless leader and Captain. What a difference a year makes, I've gone from fully expecting captains to leave to fully expecting this one to be signed long before he hits free agnecy.

5. Teppo's coming back! I know, I know, Darcy said nothing was final yet, but it's definitely moving that way. I couldn't be happier. I've been chirping about his importance to the team since July 1, and I stand behind everything I said. We need a calming force both on the ice and off of it for these young players still growing into new roles. He can teach our baby d-men so much, and he genuinely likes it in Buffalo. Wait, a veteran player liking it here? I though Bucky Gleason said we were a terrible organization to play for, and no one would ever come here by choice? Maybe not...

As a reward for getting through this novel of a post, I present to you a daily dose of cuteness, courtesy of Goose and Danny Paille at a street hockey game with kids from Camp Good Days:

Looking Back

Hockey season is over.

It hadn't really bothered me before because I was so busy. My dance recital went off with no major disasters to speak of, and my ballet class that I teach looked adorable if I do say so myself. Although today I think I'm battling what Lindy would deem "general body soreness" with the possibility of a "lower body injury."

Now that I have time on my hands, I feel like I should give these Sabre-less Stanley Cup Playoffs the send-off they deserve. So without further ado:

The Top 10 Things I Learned During the 2008 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

10.) The Calgary Flames are the poster team for mucking and grinding. The Flames play hockey the way I love watching it be played - physical, gritty, and with a little bit of an edge. I've decided that I would give my right leg (and that's my good dancing leg) for the Captain to beat all Captains (sorry, Pommer), Jarome Iginla. He exhibits all that I love about hockey - toughness, scoring prowess, ability to fight when called for, and true heart.

Pretty and gritty - what more could a girl want?

9.) I love watching the Ottawa Senators FAIL. As a Sabres fan, nothing in these playoffs was sweeter than watching the Sens get swept by the Penguins in the first round.

8.) For his own safety and sanity, Brian Campbell should sign in the Eastern Conference next year. Preferably with a team like Florida or some other place where hockey is second to NASCAR in popularity, so he can see how good he had it here. Seriously, though, Soupy looked down right intimidated by the physical style of teams like Calgary, and it showed in his poor performances and untimely giveaways.

7.) I miss Danny and Marty 1000 times more than Chris Drury. I think we all still bear the scars of being stabbed in the back by Chris Drury. While I wanted to see Danny and Marty succeed despite hating their team, I was glad to see the Rangers and their overpaid "intangible" leader exit in the second round.

6.) Ryan Malone is ridiculously attractive.

And his playing isn't too shabby, either

5.) The Sabres NEED Brooks Orpik. I know he's too expensive for a stay-at-home defenseman, but it's nice to dream. Watching this Buffalo native's hard-nosed blueline play this postseason has really opened my eyes to the kind of shot-blocking, gritty defense the Sabres have been missing since Jay McKee left.

4.) I miss Colby Armstrong on the Penguins. If you haven't picked up on this, today must be your first day reading this blog, so welcome! My name is Katie, and I am a recovering Army addict. Watching the Penguins get so far was the next best thing to having the Sabres in the playoffs, but it felt incomplete without Army along for the ride.

3.) Sidney Crosby isn't really a robot after all. Sure, he always seems to say the right things and never show any emotion whatsoever beyond what the NHL tells him to show. However, the Finals brought out the human side to the young man with the "Chops." Whether it was the clips of him lighting up at seeing Colby again as an analyst, or his ultimate disappointment with losing it all after coming so close, Sid became more "real" to me this postseason. His final interview was just heartbreaking, and made him seem like the vulnerable little boy that I think he really is.

I learned even superstars like Sid and Geno need snuggles

2.) Nothing compares to Sabres hockey. Yes, the playoffs were exciting. Yes, some players captured my attention and a little piece of my heart. However, my team is still my team, and a postseason without them helped solidify that feeling. Jarome Iginla is a great captain, but he's not Jason Pominville. Marc-Andre Fleury is a quirky, awesome goalie, but he's not nearly as quirky or as awesome as Ryan Miller. For as good as Sid and Malkin are, they're not Derek Roy and Thomas Vanek. And Ryan Malone, I'm sorry, as attractive and tough as you are, you will NEVER take Goose's spot in my heart.

1.) I really LOVE hockey. Even without the Sabres, the playoffs were still fun to watch because it's hockey. It's the most physically daunting postseason in sports, and it's great to watch these men put their bodies and their hearts on the line for one goal. How long until next season starts again?