The National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate the richness of Polish Culture and Sports at their June 24, induction in Troy, Michigan. The NPASHF induction ceremony will honor former Philadelphia Phillies Manager, Danny Ozark. The Buffalo native played in the Brooklyn Dodger’s system for many years.
As a Major League Manager, Ozark led the Phillies to National League-East titles in 76, 77 and 78. He was also a longtime coach for the L. A. Dodgers.
Past Philadelphia Phillies slugger Greg Luzinski will present for the deceased Ozark. Ozark passed in Vero Beach, Florida in 2009 and is survived by his wife Ginny and two children, Dwain and Darlene. Luzinski was inducted into the NPASHF in 1989.
In his first year he took a lousy hockey team and made it entertaining. In his second year he made it a division champion. But for someone so good at making others better than they really are, since getting the boot from Buffalo, Ted Nolan has failed to do the same for himself.
Once considered a rising star in the NHL coaching ranks and a beloved figure for his great work and fiery persona in his short time in Buffalo, Nolan has been responsible for much of his own career demise since he and John Muckler were both losers in a 1997 power struggle.
And as the 15-year anniversary of his hiring as head coach of the Sabres approaches, Nolan apparently hasn’t used up all of the cards in the racism deck just yet.
(This is our new daily feature called “Did You Know”— providing a little nugget of Buffalo sports information you may… or may not have known)
For a three-year period of time, young Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry was one of the most feared ball carriers in the National Football League. After 729 yards in his 2001 rookie season, Henry would go on to run for 1,438 and 1,356 yards in his second and third seasons, respectively.
But did you know that for all of Henry’s positive numbers in the running game, he’ll go down as having the worst quarterback rating in franchise history.
Let’s begin with a disclaimer—This post has absolutely nothing to do with sports. If you’re looking to get your daily Buffalo sports fix on, this isn’t the column to do it and you may be better served clicking another link or coming back again tomorrow. Having said that, I respectfully ask you to carry on reading.
They say writing is therapeutic and since I’ve allowed myself a forum to do so, I need to as for today, I’m once again brokenhearted.
Exactly one year ago on this day, my dear friend Renee Greco was cruelly murdered by two young men she cared for while working as a youth counselor at a Lockport group home for troubled teens.
Countless lives, including mine were forever changed.
(Just to do a little something different, we’re going to start a regular feature called “The Daily Did You Know”— a nugget of information about a Buffalo sports team or player that you may not have known—or maybe you did.)
When people think of great pass catchers in Buffalo Bills history, Bob Chandler is not a name that typically jumps to mind. But did you know that in a four-year span ranging from 1975-78, Chandler led the entire NFL with 220 receptions?
Chandler finished a nine-year Buffalo career with 295 receptions for 3,999 yards and 34 touchdowns—not bad for a former seventh-round draft choice.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have their man after hiring Scott Arniel as the team’s new head coach.
This is the latest in a course of events over the last two months that saw the Blue Jackets offer the position originally to Guy Boucher, head coach of the Hamilton Bulldogs, only to see him reject the job.
According to the Columbus Dispatch?, once he rejected the job, it was offered Arniel, who quickly accepted and will be in Columbus tomorrow for a press conference.
The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame will introduce its 13 member class of 2010, Tuesday afternoon, June 8 in the Pavilion area at HSBC Arena. Introduction of this year’s new members will commence at 3:30 pm with board president, Brian Cavanaugh, presiding.
A reception will follow until 4:30 pm. This event will mark the 20th class to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since its inception in 1991 and brings total membership to 228.
Current Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff, one of several inductees expected on hand for the announcement, will give remarks on behalf of the class. Ruff is the longest tenured coach in the NHL and enjoyed a 13 year NHL playing career with the Sabres and New York Rangers prior to being named Buffalo’s bench boss.
(Just to do a little something different, we’re going to start a regular feature called “The Daily Did You Know”— a nugget of information about a Buffalo sports team or player that you may not have known—or maybe you did.)
Did you know that indirectly, the Bills trading O.J. Simpson to San Francisco in 1978 led to the team acquiring Jim Kelly five years later?
When the Bills traded Simpson they received four picks from the 49ers; a second and third round draft choice in 1978 and a first and fourth rounder the following year. With that first round pick in 1979 the Bills drafted Tom Cousineau (first overall as well).
Though he never played a game with Buffalo, electing to sign with the CFL instead, Buffalo managed to trade his rights to the Cleveland Browns in 1982 for a first round (14th overall) pick in the ’83 draft.
Buffalo then used that pick on Jim Kelly. A lot of people know the Cousineau pick turned out to be Kelly. Not everyone however, realize it was dealing Simpson to San Francisco that would set up the future Cleveland trade.
Get ready for Stephen Strasburg fever at Coca Cola field in Buffalo Thursday. The Buffalo News reports over 9,000 tickets have already been sold to see the phenom in his last minor league start.
Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted on Wednesday that Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch is expected to take part during team OTA’s on Thursday, after missing the first five sessions.
One of the things Western New York has lacked for quite some time is a soccer team to root for. That changes when Memorial Day weekend rolls around.
The National Premier Soccer League now has a franchise in Buffalo. FC Buffalo opens their inaugural season Saturday afternoon at Robert E. Rich All-High Stadium with a match against Erie.
Game time is 3:00pm. Tickets are just $5 at the door and as a Memorial Day weekend special, all veterans and military personnel that show ID will get in for free.
Co-owner Nick Mendola, also an on-air personality at local radio station WECK, has long been infatuated with soccer. He cites the organization’s mission statement as the reason behind bringing the sport back to Buffalo.
◊ A video recap of day two of OTA’s with the Buffalo Bills, from Bills.com.
◊ Matt Bowen of the National Football Post says time could be running out for Bills quarterback Trent Edwards.
◊ Donte Whitner tweets that people take it too serious, less than a week after he momentarily deleted twitter because he said he “couldn’t win” when it came to it.
◊ Nick Mendola of WECK reports on his website that the Sabres and agent for Henrik Tallinder have spoken about a new contract and plan to speak again within a few weeks. Tallinder is scheduled to become a free agent on July 1.
This is the first in a series that will countdown a list of the best—and worst that sports have to offer. Today we’re counting down the five best National Anthem performances in American sports.
Since this no exact science many will disagree. For our part, we’re offering apologies to Jennifer Hudson, Faith Hill, Beyonce and Josh Grobin among countless others. All received consideration and could’ve easily have made the list.
There’s also a limit of how far back videos are generally available on the internet. Our countdown ranges from as recent as 2007 to as far back as 1983.
Buffalo, NY native and WWE Diva Superstar Beth Phoenix has badly injured her knee. The multi-time women’s champion tore her ACL and sprained her MCL. The injury is expected to sideline her from being in a ring for several months and possible up to a full year.
Phoenix, whose real name is Elizabeth Kocanski Carolan is actually from Elmira, New York even though she is billed on television as from Buffalo. The 29-year old has been wrestling professionally since 2001.
Phoenix injured the knee in a taped “Superstars’ match against Rosa Mendes two weeks ago. She tried to work around the injury before learning how serious she was injured. Ironically, her last match for the foreseeable future was in her hometown of Buffalo during a “Smackdown” TV taping at the HSBC Arena on May 11.
Nick Mendola, former WGR-500 radio personality and a friend to Buffalo Sports Daily, is making his debut this evening on 1230 WECK radio. His show is titled “The Late Nick Mendola”.
It airs from 7-10pm this evening and scheduled guests include Buffalo-born national media personality Luke Russert and University at Buffalo football lineman Peter Bittner among others.
Mendola left WGR in late April after four years with the station. He takes over as an evening sports talk host at WECK on nights that the New York Yankees aren’t playing. One of the things that most intrigued Mendola about switching positions is the University at Buffalo graduate will be part of WECK broadcasts of UB football and UB women’s basketball.
Buffalo Sports Daily is searching for a few aspiring writers and/or columnists looking to build a portfolio and pad their resume by writing about some of the best local athletes and teams that Western New York has to offer.
We’re looking for writers willing to cover college, high school, golf and amateur sports as well as human interest topics. Our goal is to continue expanding and provide our regular visitors with interesting stories and profiles that go far beyond just the Buffalo Bills and Sabres.
We’re also searching for a gifted columnist or two to pen their own running blog about anything Buffalo sports.
Experience isn’t necessary, but talent is. If you’d like to get your work published and raise your profile on a website that’s seeing its readership grow on a daily basis, then this is the right gig for you.
If you’re interested in becoming part of the Buffalo Sports Daily team, send an email letter of interest and qualifications to info@buffalosportsdaily.com
The theme from the Portland Pirates after practice this morning at Portland Ice Arena is they need to simplify their game, and get more pucks on Monarchs’ goalie Jonathan Bernier.
The Pirates head to the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester tonight for Game 3 of their Atlantic Division semifinal down 2-0 in the best-of-seven series against the Monarchs knowing they need to start scoring if they want to see another game at the Cumberland County Civic Center.
More importantly they need to start scoring at even strength.
In a press release by ESPN, it was announced that 21-year old Buffalo featherweight Guillermo Sanchez will fight against Dominic Salcido (17-2, 9 knockouts) in a televised edition of “Friday Night Fights” on May 14 at Buffalo Bill’s Star Arena in Primm, Nevada.
The eight-round fight will be the first on the ESPN telecast, which begins at 10p.m.
Sanchez is currently on a medical suspension following an accidental head butt suffered against Carlos Laudio on March 26 that left a cut near his left eye. Since the referee determined the head butt was accidental the fight was called a draw because it was stopped before the end of the fifth round.
Sanchez, 21- years old (11-0-1) was born in Puerto Rico but moved to Buffalo around seven years ago. This will be his first fight near the Las Vegas area.
Salcido will be far and away the toughest opponent Sanchez has faced.
For about two weeks after the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles were eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs in late March, Buffalo Sabres prospect Luke Adam was hangin’ looseaway from the ice. Before he could get too comfortable though, the Sabres and Portland Pirates came calling. Adam now finds himself thrust into the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs for his first taste of professional hockey.
“For sure (the two weeks off) gave me a good rest period,” said Adam after the Pirates’ 3-1 loss to the Manchester Monarchs on Saturday night in Game Two of the Atlantic Division Semifinals. “Once I got here I’ve been on the ice, doing steady conditioning and weight training, and (tonight) I felt good out there.”
“I was a little nervous going into the game, but the guys who have been here all season made it a lot easier on me. They’ve shown a lot of support the whole week helping me out.”
After trading Santonio Holmes this past week on the heels of getting fed up with multiple off field issues, the Pittsburgh Steelers very likely are looking to fill a hole at the wide receiver position. Given that he’s currently unemployed, Terrell Owens seemed to be a potential match after the NFL draft next week if the Steelers fail to land an adequate player to replace Holmes.
That’s pretty much out the window now.
Rarely one to mince his feelings, Owens took to his twitter Friday morning to publicly question the Steelers organization, namely comparing Holmes to recently embattled quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Once upon a time, paying rookies high salaries and bonuses was a necessary part of doing business in the NFL. That was back in the days when the NFL actually had to compete for football players.
When the AFL came into existence and started offering rookies higher salaries to play in their League, they were able to steal some marquee players away from the NFL. As the AFL grew in strength and started putting a competitive product on the field, the NFL Owners were forced to do one of two things: Pay higher salaries, or do what many big corporations in America do; buy out your competitor and merge the companies. We know how that story ended.
The USFL and the World Football League, in their brief tenures, were able to attract some rookies – with NFL talent – and pay them enough money to play for their league, but by that time it was too late, the NFL had already grown too powerful – due in large part to the anti-trust exemption they received from Congress. We all know how the USFL and WFL ended.
The fine folks from the Labatts Blue Pond Hockey have released a video highlight of this year’s event held in Buffalo this past February.
Although inclement weather prevented the tournament from reaching its conclusion on the final day, you must admit it looked like a great time. We especially like the Chiefs uniform at the 2:39 mark.
Check out the clip and if you’re on the fence about participating when it comes to town next year, this should put you over the top.
Fans of professional wrestling, especially those who remember the 1980’s era will surely recall Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake.
Beefcake will headline a professional wrestling card along with a host of Empire State Wrestling (ESW) stars on May 8 at the Lockport Kenan Center.
The show is designed raise money for the Kenan Center Arena Project 2010.
Beefcake (who’s real name is Ed Leslie) broke into what was then known as the WWF in 1984. Under the guidance of manager “Luscious” Johnny Valiant, Beefcake teamed with Greg “the Hammer” Valentine to win the WWF Tag Team championship in 1985. They held the titles until losing to the British Bulldogs at Wrestlemania II in 1986.
Like it or not, it’s that time of year in the NFL.
Free agency has slowed to a crawl and the draft is still nearly a month away. Any rumor, whether big or small is going to get reported constantly. But in the case of Donovan McNabb, things are really taking shape as it’s rapidly becoming plausible he could get dealt.
In fact the rumors, only further fueled by his own head coach Andy Reid, are running rampant enough that McNabb is now speaking.
The quarterback told the Philadelphia Daily News today that he’d like to stay in Philadelphia, but just as importantly wants the situation resolved quickly.
According to a report by the New York Times, New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriquez will be in Buffalo on Friday. Unfortunately for A-Rod fans the visit won’t be for baseball purposes. The slugger is scheduled to meet with Federal investigators about his interactions with Anthony Galea, a Canadian doctor who’s suspected of several wrong doings in regards to steroids.
Reportedly, Federal investigators are trying to find out whether Galea gave performance-enhancing drugs to professional athletes in the United States. Galea has treated prominent American athletes in the past, including Rodriquez and Tiger Woods among U.S. Olympic medalists.
The National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame will celebrate the richness of Polish Culture and Sports at their June 24, induction in Troy, Michigan. The NPASHF induction ceremony will honor former Philadelphia Phillies Manager, Danny Ozark. The Buffalo native played in the Brooklyn Dodger’s system for many years.
In his first year he took a lousy hockey team and made it entertaining. In his second year he made it a division champion. But for someone so good at making others better than they really are, since getting the boot from Buffalo, Ted Nolan has failed to do the same for himself.
(This is our new daily feature called “Did You Know”— providing a little nugget of Buffalo sports information you may… or may not have known)
Let’s begin with a disclaimer—This post has absolutely nothing to do with sports. If you’re looking to get your daily Buffalo sports fix on, this isn’t the column to do it and you may be better served clicking another link or coming back again tomorrow. Having said that, I respectfully ask you to carry on reading.
(Just to do a little something different, we’re going to start a regular feature called “The Daily Did You Know”— a nugget of information about a Buffalo sports team or player that you may not have known—or maybe you did.)
The Columbus Blue Jackets have their man after hiring Scott Arniel as the team’s new head coach.
The Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame will introduce its 13 member class of 2010, Tuesday afternoon, June 8 in the Pavilion area at HSBC Arena. Introduction of this year’s new members will commence at 3:30 pm with board president, Brian Cavanaugh, presiding.
(Just to do a little something different, we’re going to start a regular feature called “The Daily Did You Know”— a nugget of information about a Buffalo sports team or player that you may not have known—or maybe you did.)
Get ready for 
One of the things Western New York has lacked for quite some time is a soccer team to root for. That changes when Memorial Day weekend rolls around.
◊ Tim Graham of ESPN.com spoke with Buffalo Bills Fred Jackson, who said that 
◊ A video recap of 
Buffalo, NY native and WWE Diva Superstar Beth Phoenix has badly injured her knee. The multi-time women’s champion tore her ACL and sprained her MCL. The injury is expected to sideline her from being in a ring for several months and possible up to a full year.
Nick Mendola, former WGR-500 radio personality and a friend to Buffalo Sports Daily, is making his debut this evening on 1230 WECK radio. His show is titled “The Late Nick Mendola”.
Buffalo Sports Daily is searching for a few aspiring writers and/or columnists looking to build a portfolio and pad their resume by writing about some of the best local athletes and teams that Western New York has to offer.
The theme from the Portland Pirates after practice this morning at Portland Ice Arena is they need to simplify their game, and get more pucks on Monarchs’ goalie Jonathan Bernier.
In a press release by ESPN, it was announced that 21-year old Buffalo featherweight Guillermo Sanchez will fight against Dominic Salcido (17-2, 9 knockouts) in a televised edition of “Friday Night Fights” on May 14 at Buffalo Bill’s Star Arena in Primm, Nevada.
For about two weeks after the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles were eliminated from the QMJHL playoffs in late March, Buffalo Sabres prospect Luke Adam was hangin’ loose away from the ice. Before he could get too comfortable though, the Sabres and Portland Pirates came calling. Adam now finds himself thrust into the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs for his first taste of professional hockey.
After trading Santonio Holmes this past week on the heels of getting fed up with multiple off field issues, the Pittsburgh Steelers very likely are looking to fill a hole at the wide receiver position. Given that he’s currently unemployed, Terrell Owens seemed to be a potential match after the NFL draft next week if the Steelers fail to land an adequate player to replace Holmes.
Once upon a time, paying rookies high salaries and bonuses was a necessary part of doing business in the NFL. That was back in the days when the NFL actually had to compete for football players.
Fans of professional wrestling, especially those who remember the 1980’s era will surely recall Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake.
According to a report by the 
