Sunday Drafting...

Some Sunday drafts:

• Brown and green don't always make for the most appealing color scheme, but it's looking pretty good just south of downtown Buffalo. I always love hearing about things that reinforce the fact that Buffalo is experiencing a resurgence, and the latest photos of the "Steel Winds" project in Lackawanna is pretty exciting stuff. The energy generating wind turbines are being erected on the eastern edge of Lake Erie, but it's the ground they're occupying that's important. Instead of taking up space on potential commercial/residential or light industrial waterfront space, the wind turbines sit on some of the most polluted areas of the former Bethlehem Steel campus. Renewable energy on a defunct industrial brownfield. Green and brown. It's said to be the first project of it's kind in the US, and the turbines will become the 3rd tallest structures in WNY. The city of Lackawanna, which has struggled to recover from Bethlehem's massive closings in the 80's is harnessing the winds off of Lake Erie that once blew so many pollutants from the steel furnaces into residential yards, that laundry hung out to dry would be pulled off the line dirtier than before it was washed.
• Everyone in the hockey world is talking about the recent home-and-home series between the Sabres and Senators, so here are my thoughts. While it seems that the general consensus among hockey broadcasters is that Chris Neil's late blindsiding of Sabre captain and leading goal scorer Chris Drury was legal but dirty. From trolling through some message boards and forums however, fans are split mostly down the middle, if not favoring the view that Neil's hit was unnecessary, dangerous and generally crappy. I think that what is completely ludicrous is the criticism of Lindy Ruff for sending out his enforcer/goon line immediately after Drury was leveled. I'm not sure what coach, at any level of hockey hasn't done this following a play where they felt the opposing team was taking liberties.
• What's up with the uni's in college basketball this season? Not only does it seem to me that numerous teams are no longer wearing home whites, but the additional piping accents are absolutely hideous. Watching Ohio St at home vs Wisconsin this afternoon it just seemed weird to watch the home team wearing grey. I understand that grey is an integral part of OSU's color scheme, but it simply doesn't look like a home jersey. With the student body shirts also being grey, the OSU arena looked like a bad attempt at a playoff "white-out" that's become common in the NHL and NBA.
• I think the new movie 300 looks sick and I can't wait to go see it.
• A great article today in The Buffalo News regarding Sabres' GM Darcy Regier and his legacy. With news today about Atlanta picking up Alexi Zhitnik and Keith Tkachuk, the pressure is on for Regier to bolster the Buffalo line-up. While you don't want to see your team overpay in any trade, does anyone care if that team wins a championship?
• The more I think about it, the more I think it could be possible for Buffalo to keep its captains, Daniel Briere and Chris Drury next season. More to come this week.
• It's funny how old traditions die hard. I watched the Sabres game last night with my 80 year old grandfather, one of the biggest sports fans I know. Twice the Sabres trailed by 3 goals in the game, and twice my grandpa stated disgustedly that the game was over. Twice the Sabres came back to tie the game. 3 years ago, I would have been right with my grandpa, but the fact is, the NHL is a different league, and the Sabres have one of the most resilient teams that I've ever watched.
• There was news today that the Bills are interested in dealing RB Willis McGahee, perhaps to the NY Giants. I can't understand why the Giants would be interested in McGahee when they already have a big, powerful back in Brandon Jacobs. The fact is, teams that were successful last year didn't rely on two big backs, but rather one bruiser, and quick speedy option. Chicago, New Orleans, New England and Indy all were successful using two backs, but none featured two bruisers. McGahee is in the last year of his contract in Buffalo, and apparently rather than re-sign him, the Bills are interested in seeing what they can get for him. Personally I like the idea of trading him for a 2nd round pick. McGahee is a useful back, but RB's that can pick up 1,000+ yds a season are a dime a dozen. If Willis goes, I'd love to see the Bills pick up a smaller speed back in the draft, and pair him with Anthony Thomas.
• I missed The Office this week, and I feel like my life has been much less funny as a result.
• Encouraging news about the growth of the banking industry in Buffalo, with news that Citigroup will add between 700 and 1,000 jobs in a back-office banking center to be built at CrossPoint business park (where I go to work everyday at GEICO). After talking with my cousin this weekend who lives in Washington, D.C. it makes sense to me why large coroporations would be more than happy to build here. While NY State taxes are mostly absurd, corporations are still able to offer salaries here that are higher than the local average, but much cheaper than what employers have to pay out in Chicago, DC, NYC and Boston. What's great is that even though the salaries being offered are for less money, the cost of living in WNY is so fantastic that anyone can be comfortable. What my cousing is paying for a 600 sq/ft apartment in DC, she could be living in a fully furnished, gorgeous, newly-rehabbed apartment downtown.
• The Oscars apparently are tonight and I honestly could care less. For my money, the best movie I've seen since Lord of the Rings was Children of Men.