| Wednesday, 01 February 2012 23:53
It was about 14 months ago when I almost called into WGR to yell at the top of my lungs about the Bills. You see, their afternoon hosts had it in their head that the Bills needed to lose out in order to gain the #1 pick to draft Andrew Luck. It was a topic that seemed to get brought up almost every day for like two months.
It was obnoxious.
I didn't hate it because I'm this giant Bills fan and the thought of cheering against them would be like a priest breaking the 10 commandments, but how there were other ways to turn the franchise around. The prime example I used was getting better scouts because teams like the Pats, Ravens and Steelers would find gems all over the draft. Plus, a number of teams like the Lions, Rams and Raiders would pick high and it wouldn't get them anywhere.
Flash-forward to December of 2011 during the Bills losing streak, and I had given up. It was different from the year before because everyone knew the 2010 season was a rebuilding year, so, I braced myself for it. You know, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. I couldn't bear the thought anymore about the Bills going from 5-2 to 5-8. It got to the point that I just didn't care anymore and that I wanted the team to lose out for a higher draft pick. It got to that point because I was just tired of the crap. I wasn't happy about it, but I just didn't have the answers anymore.
Now we come to the other team in town and that 600lb gorilla that hasn't been mentioned, but I think a number of fans are thinking it:
Do we want the Sabres to lose out?
Allow me to not be smitten by a 5 out of 6 point swing. Yes, the Rangers game was a lot of fun (At least the 3rd period and OT were), but do you really believe the Sabres can make a run? Do you believe the Sabres are any good? Do you believe in the top six forwards? Better yet, do you believe in Darcy and Lindy?
My answers: No, no, no and no.
I know we love the Sabres. I can feel the growing optimism on Twitter after hanging tough with the top team in the East. It is fun being around a winner. However, if the Sabres go on a little run and are like 10 games above .500 for the 2nd half with healthy players in tack, I don't think anyone is getting fired. Isn't that what we wanted 10 days ago? Remember that epic 7-game road trip?
My, how we forgot those great games.
For crap sakes, I got a Twitter feed of people saying we can't trade Ryan Miller. REALLY? After a 3-game stretch he's back to Captain America? I guess I should ignore the first three months of the season and the majority of last year, too.
I think it is time for fans to stop dreaming with this bunch. You have to realize by now how the Sabres do things, especially Lindy and Darcy. They already have the PR/Stat gurus mapping out the W/L record when the team is healthy (Yes, I'm looking at you, Ian!:P ). Remember injuries are a fact of life from the owner?
They will go down that road, especially if there is a run attached to the end of this season.
Hell, Lindy went down it after the Habs game when he felt sorry for himself/team because Vanek got hurt. I thought it was kind of odd because it was already established that night that he'd only miss a week. Yet, he once again mentions injuries after having a nice win against the Habs. It is like he's planting these seeds.
Do I need to go back to how Lindy blamed Vanek and Pomer's injuries against the the B's and Flyers, even though their more important players were out as well (Carter & Savard). Should I go back to 2009 when Vanek missed six games down the stretch which deprived us of their epic run to 8th place. They are excuse makers. PERIOD. I use to think it was just Larry Quinn/Tom Golisano making up these excuses (See: The Mulligan years). But now I realize it goes straight to Darcy/Lindy. I guess it must have spread like a plague.
I'm sorry to be such a douche right now, but the short-term memory loss after a Shootout loss is remarkable by some fans.
Now, I will give you some silver linings. I don't think the organization will sit on their ass and do nothing. I think the days of the core are coming to an end. So, if your only goal is for the Sabres to move Derek Roy or Drew Stafford, then you may be in luck. Its really what their selling point has become.
"We have Terry!! He will not rest until the Cup is brought here."
Yes, I get that, but if Darcy/Lindy, whom have won 5 playoff series together since "No-goal" are pulling the trigger, will it matter? Do I need to bring up Leino and Brad Boyes?
Like I wrote earlier, a part of a reason why I got on the "Bills should lose out" rhetoric was because we were at such a high and then we crashed down to earth and the years of futility just added to the frustration. Where were we in October? We were pretty hyped as Sabres fans, right? Then we hit a giant valley of crap that we have been to before. Hate to admit it, but even if we climb out of this hole and go on a streak of some sort, we will probably go back into that valley of crap at some point next year.
Sorry, but heads gotta roll beyond the players and giving them a reason not to is what they are looking for. I'm not saying you gotta cheer against them, because I won't.
However, in the interest of preserving hockey heaven, maybe they should lose a little?
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