Swinging for the Fences

The title of this post covers a multitude of sports news from the past couple of days:

• The Tampa Bay Lightning appear to be looking to hit a home run with all of the money they've thrown around this off season. Their latest move has been signing Vinny "I'm so beautiful it hurts" Lecavalier to an 11-year, $85 million contract. Now, I love Vinny as much as the next female hockey fan, but sometimes, swinging for the fences means you might strike out every once in a while. Let's think about this...11 years? Vinny may look baby-faced, but he's already 28. By the time his contract is up, he'll be 40 years old. Tampa's new owners are starting to look more and more ridiculous to me. If we head towards another lockout, we'll have contracts like this to thank.

Maybe I'm just jealous that this gorgeous piece of hockey player will never be a Sabre.

• My sister's softball team had a pretty productive weekend in Rochester. They went 2-1 in their triple-header in 90-plus degree heat. Of course, the scorching heat was followed by torrential downpours during the elimination round on Sunday. We waited at the diamonds for 3 HOURS in the monsoon before they called the games. Let me tell you, there has never been a longer two hours of my life than the ride back to Buffalo in a car with a disappointed, wet, and tired teenage softball player.

• Tonight, at 8 p.m. on ESPN is the 2008 MLB Home Run Derby. I don't consider myself a baseball fanatic, but I am a casual fan. I've taken a side in the great Yankees-Red Sox debate (I'm a sucker for pinstripes), and I really like the Cleveland Indians - mainly because I go to Bisons games, so I know who many of them are. As a casual fan, I always get excited for the Home Run Derby. I know it can get long and boring, but it just seems like a lot of fun. Plus, this year, some of my favorites are participating:

1. Evan Longoria (Tampa Bay Rays)

He's a rookie, he's adorable, and his name is so close to a Desperate Housewife that I smile every time I hear it.

2. Josh Hamilton (Texas Rangers)

After battling drug addiction following being pegged as a future superstar, I can only imagine how rewarding this season and this recognition must be for him. I'm a sucker for a great human-interest story, and his comeback is one of the best.

3. Grady Sizemore (Cleveland Indians)

My favorite player in the Majors, Grady is a former Buffalo Bison doing us proud in the Big Leagues. Not only is he a good player, he is downright beautiful. I'll be rooting for him tonight, if only to see his face on my TV for a few more hours.

Finally, I got lots of requests for where I bought my "Buffalo Likes it Ruff" shirt. The answer is Bay 6 Buffalo Clothing in the Southgate Plaza in West Seneca. This store directory lists their phone number; I wish they had a website. They have lots of other cool Sabres, Bills, and Buffalo t-shirts there, too. If you're in the neighborhood, you should definitely check it out!

Shopping is Fun

I don't have much time to write today; we're headed to the Bisons game tonight, and I still have to pack for a weekend in Rochester starting tomorrow at 5:30 a.m.! My sister has a softball tournament, so for this weekend I'm taking on the role of supportive big sis while sitting in the 90 degree heat during a fastpitch triple-header. I have no idea how those girls don't pass out on the field.

I do have something special to share today. I think I may have found the best shirt ever:

Upon closer examination, it gets even better:

Yes, it really does say "Don't go after our 'f-ing' captain!"

I think Lindy very much approves of my fashion choice

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend! Hopefully when I get back on Sunday night, I'll be able to discuss the signing of Danny Paille and the new contracts for Ryan Miller and Jason Pominville.

Our Song(s)

Another slow day in NHL-land. Well, except for the fact that Ray Emery has fled the continent to play in the oh-so-new and oh-so-Russian Continental Hockey League. Farewell, Ray; I'll miss chanting your name in playful mockery at every Ottawa game.

EMMMMERRRRY....EMMMMERRRRYY - Gosh I'll miss that

To combat this slow news day, I've decided to satisfy my inner music geek. S(h)ara over at Sabretooth's House had a great idea a few days ago to list all the songs that remind her (for better or worse) of our boys in Blue and Gold.

Today, I bring you my Sabres Playlist:

Move Along (The All-American Rejects)
This song will always remind me of the 2005-2006 Cup run. They used to play it on KISS 98.5 after every game when they did their "Sabres Report." Every time I hear this song, all I can think of is how perfect it was for that year, that team. They just kept going, even when it seemed impossible. I still get goosebumps when I hear this song because, for as great as 06-07 was, 05-06 was our year.

I'm Shipping Up to Boston (The Dropkick Murphys)
I heard this in my friend's car on the way to the Bisons game last week, and this is how the conversation went:
Me: Are we on the power play?
Best Friend: Katie, you really need a life.

City of Blinding Lights (U2)
Whenever I hear this song, I have to look around and make sure the Sabres aren't rushing onto the ice around me (which is odd because I usually hear it in my car).

Livin' on a Prayer (Bon Jovi)
Yes, they play this at EVERY sporting event, but this has a special Sabres memory for me. My two best friends and I went to the first Tampa Comeback game last February. When Vanek scored to tie the game with less than a minute left, they played this song. It seemed like everyone in the arena was singing along, and it reminds me that, even when we are at our most pessimistic, Sabres fans, at our core, are a group of believers.

Don't Stop Believin' (Journey)
Was that a nice segue or what? I remember this song being on a lot during the Ottawa series of 2007. It was almost as if we were trying to will them to win.

I'm a Believer (Smashmouth)
The only Sabres playoff game I've ever gone to was Game 5 of the Sabres-Rangers 2007 series. Yes, that Game 5. It was probably one of the greatest moments of my life, and this song will always be associated with that game for me. When the Rangers iced the puck before that last faceoff in regulation, they played this song. I swear, it was like something out of a movie how perfect that moment was - first they play the song, then Drury scores, and we win in OT.

Better Days (The Goo Goo Dolls)
This song still makes me tear up whenever I hear it. That video was just so...quintessentially Buffalo. We work hard during the day, and we expect the same from our teams. All we ask is that they give us a chance to feel good about ourselves. For a moment, that 06-07 team did just that. They made us stop feeling bitter and start believing something good could happen here, even if it didn't end perfectly.

So that's my list. Any other suggestions?

Did We Witness History and other Philosophical Thoughts

I feel like there's not much to report today. No big deal for Ryan Miller yet, no signing of Danny Paille, and Teppo Numminen is still unsigned (are you listening, Darcy?).

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday weekend. I went to the driving range for the first time, and I discovered that there may be a sport that I'm not totally inept at after all. Also, I took my sister to the movies, and we saw Pixar's Wall-E. I'm not going to say run out and see it now, but...run out and see it now. It was funny, intelligent, and beautiful.

He's almost cuter than Jason Pominville...haha

Now, onto the title of this post. In a time when we long for great rivalries in sports, so many of which seem concocted by the media, I feel like there is now a genuine combination of two men who have the potential to produce drama and athleticism of its finest every time they meet in competition. Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are two athletes at the top of their games, and they proceeded to give fans of tennis and casual viewers alike a match for the ages - and then some.

I'm a pretty big tennis fan myself. It all started with a high school crush on Andy Roddick, but it developed into a huge appreciation for the power and grace of the game and those who play it. I've seen some pretty impressive matches in my short few years following the sport, but I feel as if the 2008 Wimbledon Men's Final on Sunday was something more than impressive.

It was historic.

It was two champions giving literally everything they had to defeat the other. It was a marathon of endurance, the longest Wimbledon final ever. It was the coronation of a new king of tennis, but it left the feeling that the former king will be back stronger than ever. It proved the strength and poise of Nadal, fighting to keep Federer from gaining momentum. On the other side, it also proved the resiliency and heart of Federer, who could have bowed out in the third set, but battled through tiebreak after tiebreak, to five sets, to show what a true champion he is.

My father told me that someday I'll be 50, sitting on the couch with my kids, and I'll tell them that I saw that match happen. "People will remember this for years," he said.

I know what I'll remember. I'll remember the appreciation for the game's history in little things like Federer's embroidered sweater. I'll remember the look on the faces of Nadal's family as the years of sacrifice paid off, and their son proved he could win on grass.
If I forget everything else, though, I'll remember the class shown by both the winner and the runner-up. Roger Federer was as graceful in defeat as he is exuberant in victory. Rafael Nadal was so humbled by the fact that he beat the man he considers the greatest ever that you couldn't help but feel proud of him. I'll remember that, in an age of egos, this event put on display two men who made me proud to say that I watch sports.

I'll remember last Sunday's match for a long time. Does anyone else agree?

Goodbyes and Hellos

My Fourth of July felt like that of a bipolar schizophrenic:

2:30 p.m.: What?! The Sabres traded Steve Bernier! For DRAFT PICKS?! This is the WORST TRADE EVER! Vancouver totally fleeced us on this one. Poor Big Bear; I'll miss you and your adorable accent so much. I strongly dislike you, Darcy.

6:00 p.m.: What?! The Sabres picked up Craig Rivet in a trade from the Sharks! For DRAFT PICKS?! This is the BEST TRADE EVER! So this is why we traded away Bernier. Oh well, we did what we had to do. Sorry, Big Bear, you were a little slow for our speed demon ways anyway. I knew I always liked you, Darcy.

Anyone else experience these glaring mood swings?

Today, I say goodbye to Steve Bernier. Big Bear, I felt like you could have become a favorite of mine with your hard-hitting ways and affinity for sticking up for little Derek - not to mention your cute broken English. I can only be happy that we traded you to my favorite team in the West, Vancouver. I hope they take good care of you up there.

Au revoir, Big Bear.

As much as I did like Steve Bernier, I am beyond excited to welcome our newest Sabre, Craig Rivet!

Rivet is exactly the kind of defenseman I was hoping for Darcy to bring in. I always say that if I remember a guy from the Western Conference who's not a superstar, he's either really good or really bad. I remember Craig Rivet - in a good way. He's dependable defensively and still manages to chip in offensively as well. Also, he's a righty - something our blueline is lacking.

What most impresses me from what I've seen and heard about Rivet are what he brings off of the scoresheet. He is a veteran leader, the likes of which we sorely need around here. Also, he's not afraid to play with his heart on his sleeve and stand up for any of his teammates (especially his goalie).

Plus, this boy can fight:

I know I've yet to see him play a game in Blue and Gold, but I think Craig Rivet will be a favorite at Muckers and Grinders. In that clip alone, he's everything I love in a hockey player - gritty, angry, and protective of his teammates.

This fight is pretty great as well - all Sabres fans should check it out.

The Waiting Game

It's been over 48 hours since free agency began, and I feel like a five-year-old on a cross-country trip:

"Darcy, are we there yet?"

48 hours and no defenseman to speak of. 48 hours and only one signing (no offense, Patrick Lalime, I'm sure you're a very nice goalie). 48 hours and a market shrinking faster than we all would like.

Darcy, you know that signing Goose wouldn't hold me over forever, right?

According to the Buffalo News, Darcy did not even have serious talks with Brooks Orpik. I understand that he was probably asking for a lot of money at the start, but he ended up signing with Pittsburgh for only $3.75 million per season, a price I would like to think Darcy would have been willing to pay. However, there is a good chance that this was his "hometown discount" price for the Pens, so we'll never know just what his agent told Darcy he wanted that seemed so pricey.

Now, the Sabres are left with one of two choices:

Door Number One: The trade. Darcy seems most fond of this choice, and he has had much success choosing this door in the past (see Jochen Hect, Toni Lydman, and two guys named Briere and Drury). John Vogl brought up an interesting trade idea on Sabres Edge yesterday - Max for Jay McKee. I know Jay is injury prone and getting older, but everything we're missing he has - grit, defensive toughness, shot-blocking, leadership, veteran presence our boys know and respect. Sometimes I think Jay is the ex-Sabre we've missed most since he left considering what he brought to the table. However, he was one of my favorites, so I'm probably just biased.

Door Number Two: Free agency. Contrary to popular belief, there are some UFA defeseman left out there. One of them is Jason Smith, who WGR reports has had preliminary talks with the Sabres. Yes, he's slow, but he's a defeseman's defenseman who's not afraid to hit or get hit. One look at this picture should tell you that I fully support signing him, he's a mucker and grinder through and through:

Speaking of muckers and grinders, guess who was on the radio yesterday?

That's right - Paul Gaustad!

Goose joined Schopp and the Bulldog to talk about his new contract and his Eurotrip with Ryan Miller. It sounds like, much to our sadness they didn't meet up with Spacho; I guess Kotalik played tour guide instead (which is not nearly as funny). They also got to see matches at Wimbledon, which makes me very jealous (that tops my list for sporting events I would most like to attend).

Of course, Goose was humble as always, saying he told his agent that he was loyal to the Sabres because they gave him a shot in the NHL. That kind of loyalty is shrinking in pro sports, and it's nice to know that we have a guy like that on our team. He also said he's working out harder than ever after his sports hernia surgery, paying special attention to his core muscles. Now, if the mention of Paul Gaustad working on his abs doesn't make you sigh just a little bit, I don't know what will.

Wow, he's good looking.

Goose makes me happy, but so does the idea of a new defenseman. It's your move, Darcy, don't make me regret trusting you.

Happy HONK!!

Thank you, Darcy Regier.

Last year at this time, I was a wreck. We had lost both Danny Briere and Chris Drury, and my vacation to Cooperstown was pretty much ruined.

This year, July 1 could not get much better from my perspective. I'm back from a nice, relaxing two days at the Baseball Hall of Fame, and I get to come home to news like this.

Paul Gaustad. Four years. $9.2 million.

Four more years of Chris Neil poundings, aluminum can recycling, community helping, and, of course, rally helmets.
So thanks again, Darcy. Thanks for rewarding hard work and relentless dedication. Thanks for making it clear that what someone contributes off the ice is sometimes as important as what he contributes on it. Thanks for showing everyone that pure effort really does make a difference.

And thank you, Goose. Thanks for making it clear that you want to stay a part of this team, this community. Thanks for showing that you love us as much as we love you. Thanks for being so gosh-darn humble in an age of athletic prima donnas:

“I’m pretty speechless that I have a four-year deal in the National Hockey
League,” Gaustad said by phone from Oregon. “I’m extremely excited to have
the opportunity to be back in Buffalo. It’s just a great place to play. I
really do think we have a chance to win, and that’s a big factor for me.”

Sure, other things happened in free agency today. The Sabres got a new backup goalie, Patrick Lalime, from Chicago for $2 million over 2 years. I promise to properly welcome him tomorrow when I'm less Goose-focused.

The Blackhawks won the Soupy Sweepstakes, signing Brian Campbell to an 8-year deal worth $57.12 million. Have fun with the spin-o-ramas now, Chicago, they get old fast. Private to Soupy: if you do anything to corrupt my precious Pat Kane, I will hurt you.

I know we still need a defenseman, but right now I'm too happy to really think analytically about anything.

This is my happy HONKing dance.

Let's just hope this signing helps Goose's two BFFs in their Sabre-signing decisions:

Now, back to my happy HONKing dance...