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for June 2010
 The International league today named Buffalo Bisons LHP PAT MISCH to the league’s mid-season All-Star Team. Misch will represent the Bisons at the 23rd annual Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 14 (7:00 p.m.) at Coca-Cola Park in Lehigh Valley, PA.
The 2010 Triple-A All-Star Game will be broadcast live on the MLB Network. WWKB 1520 AM, the flagship radio home for Bisons Baseball, will also carry the game live on July 14.
Misch, 28, has spent the entire season with the Bisons and is 7-3 with a 3.46ERA in 15 starts. He leads all International League left-handed pitchers with seven wins (T3rd overall) and is 4th in the IL with 96.1 innings pitched. Misch is also one of 10 International League pitchers with a complete-game shutout this season. He allowed four hits and no walks while striking out six in a 4-0 win over Norfolk on May 15.
Continue reading ‘Bisons Pitcher Pat Misch Named to All-Star Team’
 Regardless of what they try to tell you, what more than just a handful of NFL players anticipate most during this time of year isn’t the month leading up to training camp. Rather, it’s the official release of the individual ratings for Madden.
Well, the wait is over. The individual rankings are out and were posted Tuesday morning on ESPN.com. As most local gamers feared but also expected, the Buffalo Bills didn’t get a lot of love from the game’s creators.
Only three players received an overall rating of more than 85 and one of them was their punter. Defenders Jairus Byrd and Paul Posluszny received ratings of 87 and 86, respectively.
Here are some of the highlights.
Continue reading ‘Inside the Bills Madden Ratings’
 Junior Steve McQuail was selected to the ABCA/Rawlings All-American Third-Team on Monday. McQuail and senior Ian Choy were also selected to the ABCA-Rawlings Northeast Region First Team.
McQuail, who was selected in the 30th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, signed with the organization and is currently playing for the Class-A Auburn Doubledays in the New York Penn League, is the third All-American in program history (Kevin Mailloux and current senior Shane Davis in 2008).
An all-MAAC Second-Team selection, McQuail led Canisius with a .397 batting average, 89 hits, 21 doubles, 20 home runs, 81 RBI and .768 slugging percentage during the 2010 season. McQuail set program records with his 89 hits and 81 RBI, and his 81 RBI also set a MAAC single-season record. Nationally, McQuail ranked in the top 10 in RBI, top 20 in slugging percentage and total bases and top 30 in runs scored (70).
Continue reading ‘Griffs McQuail Selected to All-American Team’
 ◊ Buffalo Bills lineman John McCargo has moved from tackle to end and is taking it all in stride, writes Tony Jones of Bills.com.
◊ NFL.com Bills blogger Terry Long recently interviewed “Coach” Sal Cappacio, asking him ten burning questions regarding the team.
◊ Yahoo Sports interviewed C.J. Spiller. It’s a very good read.
◊ As Mike Harrington of the Buffalo News reports, the free agent clock is ticking on Toni Lydman and Henrik Tallinder.
Continue reading ‘The Daily News – June 30, 2010′
 It may have took him a little over a month but starting pitcher Dillon Gee got his seventh win of the season in a 6-1 Bisons win tonight against the Syracuse Chiefs at Coca-Cola Field. Gee threw a gem, going seven innings while only giving up three hits, allowing one run and striking out six.
The last time Gee took the mound and got a win was on May 28th when the Herd defeated the Toledo Mud Hens, 7-3. Five starts, four losses and 32 days later, Gee had arguably his best outing of the season by shutting down the Chiefs over his seven strong innings of work.
Gee was excellent from the first pitch he threw. Through his first five innings he only gave up one hit coming way of a Chiefs first baseman Chris Duncan double in the third inning.
Continue reading ‘Gee Locks Down Chiefs in 6-1 Win’
 The center position has long been a concern for the Buffalo Bills and its fans. Playing in an AFC East division that features three of the league’s toughest 3-4 defenses, which in turn feature some excellent, massive nose tackles, quality interior line play is of the utmost importance for this team.
Buffalo didn’t get good center play in 2008, when the combination of Melvin Fowler and Duke Preston was, at best, forgettable. Geoff Hangartner was signed as an unrestricted free agent from Carolina to rectify the situation, and while the team did see much better run blocking with Hangartner manning the pivot, the overall gains were not especially significant.
Continue reading ‘Bills Need To Find Help In The Pivot’
 This past weekend was a busy one for the Buffalo Sabres. When the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles was completed, the Buffalo Sabres got down business , drafting nine prospects.
The Sabres began the draft’s second day without a second round selection, but made three picks in the third round starting with the 68th pick by selecting defenseman Jerome Gauthier-Leduc from Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
At 6-1, 176-pounds, Gauthier-Leduc is a high powered offensive defenseman, who has little trouble finding the back of the net. In 68 games, he scored 20 goals, 26 assists for 46 points, which ranked him second among all defensemen in the QMJHL.
It may be a couple years before he’s ready to play professional hockey with the Portland Pirates and will need to improve his defensive play before making any serious impact in the Sabres organization.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Draft Should Prove Productive’
 The Buffalo Sabres announced they will be holding a summer development camp from July 5-9 at Dwyer Arena on the campus of Niagara University in Lewiston, N.Y. There will be an on-ice session each day open to the public.
The camp will feature 42 Sabres prospects. The team’s 2010 NHL Draft picks, including first-round pick Mark Pysyk are scheduled to attend the five-day camp.
The players will take part in both on-ice and off-ice workouts. The goals of the camp are to give prospective players the fundamental ideas of the Sabres playing system and conditioning programs of an NHL player. Camp participants will also study and examine NHL rules and the successful techniques a player must possess to become a professional athlete.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Announce 2010 Summer Development Camp’
 ◊ Bob McKenzie of the TSN tweets that the Sabres selection of Mark Pysyk doesn’t have a wow factor, but is a safe and sound pick.
◊ Nick Mendola has worries about the “new” Darcy Regier.
◊ Former Sabre Ales Kotalik has been waived by the Calgary Flames, Dave Davis tweets.
◊ Former Patriots draft bust Chad Jackson is seeking redemption with the Bills, Tim Graham of ESPN.com writes.
◊ Buffalo Bills cornerback Drayton Florence is taking to his twitter to talk a little smack back at Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson.
◊ NFL.com writer Pat Kirwan recently compiled a list of 16 players who are on the spot to perform in 2010. Among those on the list is Bills wide receiver James Hardy.
◊ Brett Johnson was waived by the Bills over the weekend. On Monday he was claimed by the Philadelphia Eagles, Adam Caplan reports.
◊ This is a few days old, but WNYWaterCooler.com thinks that Marshawn Lynch is still a moron.
◊ Buffalo News columnist Jerry Sullivan writes that Kristie Kerr put her own legendary stamp on the sport of women’s golf.
◊ Rodney McKissic (Buffalo News) reports that Canisius has signed a point guard from Puerto Rico.
◊ Congratulations to our friend and BSD colleague Tim Riordan, who’s UB Bull Run website celebrated its first anniversary on Monday.
 Today was the deadline for the Buffalo Sabres to hand out qualifying offers to their restricted free agents and all, but two players were given offers.
Defensemen Mike Kostka and Matt Generous were not qualified by the Sabres and as a result will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.
Sabres GM Darcy Regier was traveling today and unavailable for comment according to Mike Gilbert, Sabres Director of Public Relations.
Continue reading ‘Kostka and Generous not qualified by the Sabres’
 As first reported by Rodney McKissic of the Buffalo News, the University at Buffalo football program got a big boost on Monday when Williamsville South high school star quarterback Joe Licata verbally committed to the program when he graduates after next year.
Licata, who threw for over 2,400 yards and 36 touchdowns as a junior last year, chose UB over Akron. According to the report, Licata originally had an offer on the table from Syracuse but it was pulled after Licata wouldn’t commit to them early.
Licata passed for a Western New York high school record 522 yards in a win over Williamsville North last September, also tossing seven touchdown passes.
Continue reading ‘UB Football Lands Local Prized Recruit’
 Niagara University Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin has been named Chair of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey Rules Committee. McLaughlin will officially assume his duties on Sept. 1.
“I am honored to serve as the chair of the committee,” McLaughlin said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on the rules committee and the NCAA staff to make college hockey the best it can be.”
McLaughlin has been a member on the rules committee since September 2008 and will serve the final two years as chair of the committee. As chair, McLaughlin will coordinate and run all committee meetings, conference calls and presentations to coaching associations, administrators and officiating groups. The chair is also authorized to speak on behalf of the committee and NCAA on any issues related to the committee’s work.
Continue reading ‘NU’s McLaughlin Named Chair Of NCAA Hockey Rules Committee’
 ◊ Larry Felser of the Buffalo News doesn’t think that Bills fans should rush to judge Chan Gailey.
◊ Defensemen dominated the early part of the Sabres draft, explains John Vogl of the Buffalo News.
◊ The Calgary Sun reports that the Sabres pulled out the welcome mat for prospect Mike MacKenzie.
◊ Canisius College men’s basketball fans are invited to join head coach Tom Parrotta on Thursday, July 1 at 6 p.m., at Papa Jakes (1672 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo) for a taping of the Canisius College Coaches Corner.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – June 28, 2010′
 On Saturday night in Reading, Richie Wilson and Dan Stevens each tallied their first goals as members of FC Buffalo only to see their squad fall, 4-2.
The same names struck Sunday and the Blitzers (3-2-3) defense stood tall as FC Buffalo completed a season sweep of the New Jersey Blaze with a pair of second-half goals, 2-0.
“First half was a tough-fought match which was really just us not playing our game yet,” said assistant coach Matt Stuczynski, who filled in for Jim Hesch.”It was nice to see that we came to form in the second half, really just stringing some passes together and it was good to see the ball go in the net twice for a good victory.”
Continue reading ‘FC Buffalo completes sweep of Blaze’
 The Bisons dropped their second consecutive game to the Charlotte Knights by losing 3-2 at Knights Stadium tonight.
After Bisons pitcher Raul Valdes took the mound for the start in place of Dylan Owen, he pitched a fantastic four innings. Valdes, who made two appearances for the Bisons early in the season has spent the majority of this year with the Mets but was recalled to Buffalo this past week when catcher Josh Thole was called up.
Valdes made the most of his start by going a strong four innings. Valdes gave up only four hits while giving up one run due to a solo home run from Knights left fielder Stefan Gartrell in the second inning. Besides Gartrell’s 12th homer of the season, Valdes was in control for the majority of his outing. The left hander commanded the strike zone with ease by striking out seven Knights. Valdes threw 60 pitches and had 43 of them count for strikes.
Continue reading ‘Bisons drop second straight’
 The Buffalo Sabres surprised Sabres fans by selecting defenseman Mark Pysyk of the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League. The Sabres were expected to take a forward with the 23rd selection but after watching things develop, they felt Pysyk was the right selection.
Pysyk is hard to get a read on because he missed a lot of time this season. He suffered a concussion, early in the season and a broken foot ended his season during February. He is a big kid but still hasn’t learned to use his size effectively. He is soft along the boards and relies on his reach in the defensive zone.
His offensive potential is limited at this point in his career. He scored seven goals in 48 games in his second season in the WHL. He is likely to be a defensive defenseman if he makes it to the NHL in a couple of seasons.
Continue reading ‘Sabres Select Mark Pysyk with 23rd Selection in NHL Draft’
 Niagara men’s basketball head coach Joe Mihalich has announced the signing of five members to the 2010-11 Purple Eagles team. The recruiting class features four backcourt players and one forward.
“Our 2010 recruiting class has a common theme in that they are all tough, all very competitive and all played on highly successful teams in very good leagues,” Mihalich said. “We are very excited to have them and look forward to watching them grow on and off the court. This group brings outstanding guard play and a post player with a big upside; and while these five guys are ready to help right away, their future is even brighter.”
Continue reading ‘Niagara Men’s Hoops Welcomes Five Newcomers’
 As the 2010 NFL season draws ever nearer, there are several Buffalo Bills players that are playing for a bit more than the rest of their teammates this season. With GM Buddy Nix keeping a close eye on his roster at all times, there are five players in particular that, should they satisfy Nix’s personnel needs through their level of play this season, could be in for lucrative contract extensions next off-season.
QB Trent Edwards. Picked in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft, Edwards will play out the fourth and final year of his rookie contract before hitting free agency next spring. Obviously, his inclusion on this list is contingent on his emerging from the QB muddle as the team’s starting quarterback, and then proving himself durable and capable of executing Chan Gailey’s offense for an entire season. If he can accomplish those feats – clearly, they’re big “ifs” – there’s a very real chance he gets an extension in Buffalo.
Continue reading ‘Five Bills Angling For New Contracts In 2010′
 ◊ The Associated Press reports that Chan Gailey knows who’ll be the Buffalo Bills staring quarterback heading into training camp, but won’t announce it before camp starts.
◊ Tim Graham from ESPN.com offers his Bills minicamp notes & observations, and isn’t overwhelmed by any of the team’s quarterbacks.
◊ Buffalo News writer Mark Gaughan serves up a blog entry saying the wide receiver position is another battle to be contested during training camp with no clear front runner opposite Lee Evans.
◊ After the Bills minicamp concluded, the team waived rookie free safety Brett Johnson in an official team statement.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – June 26, 2010′
 Kate Achter has been named an assistant women’s basketball coach at St. Bonaventure University, Bonnies head coach Jim Crowley announced.
A 2008 graduate of Bowling Green State University, Achter was an All-American point guard for the Falcons. During her career, Bowling Green won four consecutive Mid-American Conference championships, advanced to the NCAA Tournament three times and won a total of 108 games against only 21 losses.
Achter ranks fourth in Bowling Green women’s basketball history with 1,580 points. She also is the Falcons’ all-time leader in assists, with 688, and free throws, with 551.
Continue reading ‘Achter named Bona assistant women’s hoops coach’
 Charles Roberts of Metro WNY has an excellent story about former UB and current Green Bay Packers running back James Starks.
Brian Brohm was the first quarterback through the rotation in Thursday’s minicamp practice, writes Chris Brown of Bills.com
Pro Football Talk says the Seattle Seahawks could be inching closer to a run at former Bills WR Terrell Owens.
Tim Graham of ESPN.com reports that the Bills are confident in their 3-4 defense.
Continue reading ‘The Daily Links – June 25, 2010′
 We’ve counted down our list of the best 20 Buffalo Bills draft picks of all-time over the past few weeks. Take note- this is not a rundown of the best 20 players. Where the player was drafted is often a major factor in determining his value and ranking. The countdown has finally concluded and we’re ready to announce the team’s best draft pick ever, Andre Reed.)
Andre Reed, Wide Receiver (4th round pick, 86th overall in 1985 draft)
If we were to tell you that Andre Reed was the 13th overall pick of the 1985 NFL draft, you’d have to consider him a steal. But that would be a lie. Reed wasn’t the 13th selection of the draft—he was the 13th RECEIVER to be picked in the draft.
One slot ahead of him with the 85th overall pick in the fourth round, the Minnesota Vikings drafted wide receiver Buster Rhymes— and we’re not talking about the rapper, either.
Continue reading ‘Top 20 Bills All-Time Draft Picks: Andre Reed (#1)’
 Buffalo Bills cornerback Terrence McGee and his former agent, Terry Bolar have been locked in a lawsuit that McGee alleges Bolar took him for more than a million dollars. According to this AP report by John Wawrow, the suit has been settled out of court.
“I’m happy that it’s over and ready to move in my life,” Bolar told the AP, who said he received a letter confirming the settlement on May 18. “I wish him and his family the best, and am thankful for my family to have supported me.”
Both sides have claimed they’ve done nothing wrong, but both refused to talk about the specifics of the case following the settlement as part of a signed confidentiality agreement.
McGee accused both Bolar and former Bills defensive coordinator Jerry Gray of knowingly introducing McGee to an advisor that in turn funneled his investments into “unauthorized and possibly nonexistent investments.”
The lawsuit was originally filed in Harris County District Court in Texas in February 2007.
 We’re counting down our list of the best 20 Buffalo Bills draft picks of all-time. Take note- this is not a rundown of the best 20 players. Where the player was drafted is often a major factor in determining his value and ranking. Today is number two on our list, Thurman Thomas)
Thurman Thomas, Running Back (2nd round pick, 40th overall in 1988 NFL draft)
There have been a few names throughout this countdown when we’ve admittedly had to go back and do plenty of research to recall facts and stats.
This isn’t one of them.
Anyone who’s a Bills fan and around during the Super Bowl era will never forget the 1988 draft, Thurman Thomas, and how he waited… and waited… and waited to find a NFL home.
Continue reading ‘Top 20 Bills All-Time Draft Picks: Thurman Thomas (#2)’
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With the University at Buffalo offensive line class starting to take shape, Bulls fans got word that head coach Jeff Quinn has started to stock the defensive line with ‘The Next Bull In’.
