Honor Braves in HSBC
The Sabres have been holed up in a meeting this morning and Lindy Ruff has decided to go on the ice and practice. Best thing for them would be to simply toss the DVD of Monday's 2-0 loss to Nashville into the trash can and that's what we're going to do here for now at least.
Wanted to throw this out to you from Saturday's jaunt to Montreal but it took me until now to get this neat picture I took of the Bell Centre rafters loaded here (click for a better view). I've been thinking about this point for a while, especially now that the Aud is coming down and we just had the farewell event in the Convention Center: How about honoring the Braves in HSBC Arena like they honor the late, great Expos in Montreal? The folks at The Sports Road Trip have been pushing this for a couple years and after taking a look Saturday, I concur with that idea.
For all of us 40-somethings and up, the Braves were a huge part of this town in the 70s. You should have seen all the folks crowding around their memorabilia tables a couple weeks ago. Parents telling their kids about those great playoff games with the Celtics ("We had a team that played the Celtics?" I heard one wide-eyed kid say. Yep son, it's true).
In the Bell Centre, they have a banner honoring the Expos and their retired numbers for guys like Tim Raines, Andre Dawson and Gary Carter. And it's right next to Patrick Roy's No. 33 that was hung last week as well as Bob Gainey's 23 and Larry Robinson's 19.
As the Aud comes down, why can't we put a Braves banner into the HSBC rafters with the numbers of, say, Bob McAdoo, Randy Smith and Ernie D?
---Mike Harrington
oh Please Old Man, I wouldn't wear a Stafford Jersey if you paid me to, and Rockafeller? I think not, I earn my money and pay my bills and going to games is what I enjoy. Yes I go to games and it sucks if they lose, but so what if they lost 8 of the last 11. Did you forget the hot start they got off to at the beginning of the season???
Posted by: George | December 04, 2008 at 01:20 PM
What about the hockey Bisons too? I used to go to those games! They actually WON something.
Posted by: Old Guy | December 04, 2008 at 07:00 AM
George,
A few? Try 8 of 11.
Now be sure you get your 3 Drew Stafford jerseys. Should only cost you about $540 (about the average mortgage payment in Buffalo). But hey Rockefeeler, you seem to have it...flaunt it!
Signed,
A miffed mouse potato.
Posted by: Buffalo Excuses | December 03, 2008 at 05:29 PM
You people do realize that Lindy Ruff has taken the Sabres to the Stanley Cup finals, and Eastern Conference finals more times than many coaches ever do in the NHL, right? Or are you just playing ignorant because you are bandwagon fans and we have lost a few games. The team will turn around, but jump off the bandwagon and turn in your season tickets if you have them so some of us fans can buy them. Thanks.
oh and back to the original topic, I am not old enough to see the Braves, but I think that would be an awesome idea to honor those players and that team.
Posted by: George | December 03, 2008 at 01:39 PM
Not a bad idea.
Posted by: Dave | December 02, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Hey I have a great Idea. Lets swap the Raptors for the Bills.
Posted by: ES | December 02, 2008 at 03:26 PM
Great idea to keep the Braves' memory alive and I think you nailed the three guys most deserving; Randy, McAdoo and Ernie D, in that order. What a time it was to be in kid in Buffalo...McAdoo leading the league in scoring 3 straight years....McAdoo, Ernie, Dantly were rookies of the year, the French Connection were flying high and OJ was the best running back in football!
Posted by: Dave | December 02, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Love the idea of a banner about the Buffalo Braves !! I have many fond memories of sitting up in the(cheap) orange seats to watch Braves games while at Buff State. Meanwhile, maybe it's time to consider some kind of coaching change with the Sabres -- not much else has worked to get this team motivated. Too much inconsistency, too little grit and heart from the players.
Posted by: jan | December 02, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Great idea, Harrington. Let's make it happen.
Posted by: Caps | December 02, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Through all the shuffling and benching of talented players, I think it's time to look at the coach. Seems to me his ego may be starting a problem.
Max has truly been trying. Throughout all the lines shuffles and benchings it has prevented any kind of continuity. And oh yea just cut Connoly.
Posted by: Displaced Omaha Sabre Fan | December 02, 2008 at 11:59 AM