Yep, I’ve procrastinated a lot when it comes to blogging about the second round. I guess I had a hard time finding a theme for it really.

You can sum it up in one stat.

19-1

No, that’s not the Patriots record from last year. It’s the won/loss record of the home clubs in the second round.

A common phrase in the NBA playoffs has always been that “a series doesn’t start until someone loses a home game”. There’s some truth to that, but not in Round 2 as the one series where that statement can actually be applied thus far(Orlando/Detroit) has already concluded. And any road team that wins a game in the other three series thereafter will win the series entirely.

The homecourt advantage has always been most paramount in the NBA, but this year its gone to ridiculous measures. Stunning when you consider that six of the eight remaining teams have winning road records during the regular season, including Boston(31-10: best road record) who has yet to win a playoff game away from Boston thus far.

Which is not to say that the second round hasn’t been entertaining. Far from that. There have been some great highlights to remember the round by.

How about Tyshawn Prince’s gutsy series winning block of Hedo Turkoglu in the dying seconds of Game 5? Can you imagine him missing the block and picking up an ‘and 1″ basket that could have forced OT? Gutsy move on his part.

Then there’s LeBron James’ posterization of Kevin Garnett to ice Game 4 in Cleveland. One of those press photographers ought to have a photo of that moment that deserves to be on milllions of kids’ walls around the world.

Best throwdown dunk to ice a playoff game since1993 . I had to put at least one great Knick playoff memory in here somewhere…..

And who didn’t feel good for Utah’s Ronnie Price in Game 4. After being hammered by a hard foul from Ronny Turiaf Price came back in the fourth quarter to make a critical block on Luke Walton.

And who didn’t love LeBron’s mom wanting to come after Paul Pierce and KG. The unintentional comedy factor was through the charts there.

So the three remaining series have at least one(if not two if homecourt hold). Lotsa storylines abound….

Will the Hornets send the defending champs home for the season? The Spurs are still in this series thanks in part to Popovich taking defensive stalwart Bruce Bowen off of Chris Paul and putting him on Peja Stojakovic. And hasn’t the Paul v Parker matchup been the finest of the entire playoffs?

If the series makes it to seven games, will the Cavs be able to steal the series in Boston? All I know is, LeBron’s been to more NBA Finals than the Boston “Big 3″ combined. Just sayin’. And if Boston does advance, does anyone feel good about their chances against Detroit right now. Count me in the “no” camp.

Great effort by the Lakers to win game 5 with Kobe at less than full strength. But will the supporting cast be able to do what they did there for the remainder of the series? Only with the same help that they got from the men in stripes in said game.

Looking forward to the rest of the round, but should I really stay up to watch the games in their entirety considering the homecourt records thus far. Who am I kidding….absolutely!!!

I am absolutely amazed, and a bit disheartened, being the shill for the team that I often am, at the way the Sabres are executing their season ticket renewals.

In past years, the team heralded their campaign with a detailed chart and grid showing all the various pricing plans and the savings over window prices. Last year, customers who committed to renewing in advance of the playoffs even received round one playoff tickets at regular season prices.

Today we received our renewal letters, and as in the past there are three payment dates staggered throughout the summer, along with info on various ways to make ones payments. But other than a letter from John Sinclair and the total bill (less the credit for unplayed playoff games), nada. Do we still get Sabrebucks? Who knows!

And what are the season ticket prices? Even this info is not divulged, and one has to go to the trusty calculator to figure it all out.

So assuming a 41 game schedule with preseason thrown in as a benny, here is what I can tell you…

100 level/II seats go from $42 to $46 each.

100 level/III seats go from $31 to $35 each.

Memo to Sabres: Your season ticket prices are still a screaming bargain in this day and age. Why are you not shouting that fact from the rooftops? All this skullduggery and half spoonfuls of information is not “taking care of your best customers”, in my opinion.

Anyone else get their renewal in sections other than listed above? If so please share your ticket cost. Just a warning - have your calculator handy, the Sabres are not going to figure this out for you.

-Andrew Kulyk

In this week’s Play Ball, err… sports column, we preview this Saturday’s NLL championship game between the Buffalo Bandits and the Portland Lumberjax.

Check it out!

Only 300 level seats remain for this Saturday’s National Lacrosse League championship game at HSBC Arena, according to Bandits Media Director Ashley Scanlon.

The Buffalo Bandits and the Portland Lumberjax will play for the Champions Cup, with the opening faceoff at 7:30PM. Upper deck seats are priced at $31 and are available at the HSBC Arena box office, online at Bandits.com, or at any tickets.com outlet.

At tonight’s team practice, Coach Darris Kilgour reported that Mike Thompson will get the start in goal for the Bandits. Portland is expected to counter with the ageless Dallas Eliuk, who played in relief last weekend when Matt Disher left the game with a torn MCL.

Peter And I will both be covering this Saturday’s game. Also, look for a special preview column on the Bandits in this week’s edition of Artvoice.

For the third time this decade, the Buffalo Bandits will play for National Lacrosse League supremacy in the Champions Cup title game. This all comes about thanks to a terrific 19-12 win over the New York Titans tonight at HSBC Arena, played before a paid crowd of 11,012 fans. The Bandits will face the Portland Lumberjax, who advanced in the other semifinal by defeating Calgary tonight at the Pengrowth Saddledome.

With Ken Montour in net for the Bandits, the team got off to its usual sloppy start, falling behind 2-0 early and giving away the ball often, while unable to mount any kind of scoring threat. John Tavares finally got the Bandits on the board with a nifty wraparound goal scored from behind the net. The wild quarter continued with the teams exchanging goals, but Buffalo got three in a row late, including Billy Dee Smith’s wraparound which looked identical to Tavares’ earlier play.
Mark Steenhuis broke in all alone in the first minute of the second quarter to give Buffalo a two goal cushion, and New York immediately answered. Buffalo then took control of the game with three straight tallies - Brent Bucktooth’s second shorthanded goal of the night, then Kevin Dostie and Mike Accursi scored back to back goals late and the teams headed to the locker rooms at halftime with the score 9-5 Bandits. Said Bucktooth “Special teams are an important part of the game, and since coming back off my injury I’m just glad I am able to contribute.”

Buffalo took command of the game in the third, but shaky goaltending at the Buffalo end and former Bandits Pat Maddalena and Casey Powell doing the damage for New York brought this game to within two. Kevin Dostie’s much needed power play goal at the 13:40 mark gave Buffalo a 13-10 lead after three.

Buffalo’s Mark Steenhuis electrified the crowd in the first minute of the 4th with two straight goals to give Buffalo a 15-10 cushion. That was enough to give the hook to New York goalie Matt Vinc in favor of backup Erik Miller.

Then things got ugly. New York’s Rory Smith and Buffalo’s Ian Llord got into a spirited fight right along the Buffalo bench, with Llord delivering the best of the licks. As the two were escorted to their penalty boxes, Llord was raising his arms and leading the fan cheers. Apparently Smith didn’t like what we saw, because he ran over to the Buffalo box and cold cocked Llord. That was enough to earn Smith a game misconduct and the extra two minute penalty.

After that the Saints’ wheels came off. Steenhuis scored his sixth of the night at the 3:41 mark, then his seventh, tying a NLL playoff record, just 40 seconds later. “Mark had a couple of tough games and put a lot of pressure on himself to score some goals” said Coach Darris Kilgour. “Hopefully he got the monkey off his back.” Mike Accursi scored a highlight reel goal all alone in front of the New York net. It was party time at HSBC Arena.

The Titans tried pulling their goaltender, but Buffalo played keepaway for the duration, including during a late four minute penalty on Ian Llord, who got into another needless fight. As the final seconds ticked off, the fans gave their team a lengthy and loud ovation, and the players joined in the celebration.

Almost overlooked in tonight’s game was John Tavares scoring 12 points on 3 goals and 9 assists. “He got the quietest 12 points ever” said Kilgour. “I had no idea he had 10 assists, that’s how quiet he is, that’s how unassuming he is. He’s been through everything there is.” Talking about next week’s game, Tavares said afterwards “Hopefully third time’s a charm” referring to the two championship losses in recent seasons. “We’re just fortunate to be back in this situation.”

Asking Coach Kilgour who the Bandits match up better against in next week’s game, he replied “Definitely Portland. Playing Calgary is almost a mirror image of us, and that game would most likely come down to goaltending. With Portland, we can use our style of play more effectively than against Calgary.”

Is this the Bandits year? Is this the Bandits time? The team is peaking at just the right time, their stars are playoff tested and experienced, and five straight playoff appearances under Kilgour coached teams have resulted in brutal disappointment, a feat no one in the Bandits clubhouse want to repeat. Mark Steenhuis is happy and excited to be playing in another championship game. “I wish we could play every game here (in Buffalo)” said Steenhuis. “Hopefully we get to win a championship for these fans and this city.” But Steenhuis doesn’t want to take anything for granted either. “You don’t want to think this is our time. You just want to stay focused. I’ve been in two since being here and lost both of them. I want to end this streak this year.”

Game time next Saturday is 7:30PM and tickets are on sale at the arena box office and through tickets.com. To a man, every player has saluted the great fans of Buffalo and how much they have helped the team in this exciting playoff run. Let’s fill HSBC Arena to the rafters and help the Bandits bring the Champions Cup to Buffalo next Saturday!

-Add Annoying Game Night Host Guy to the cast of looney tunes in Banditland. During a media timeout late in the second quarter, the mascot did his t-shirt toss and AGNHG was yapping and exhorting the crowd in ear splitting fashion, which continued on endlessly as play resumed and the Bandits were killing a penalty.

-Next Saturday’s Champions Cup game will be nationally televised LIVE, coast to coast across Canada (The Score) and the United States (ESPN2)

.-Best sign? Had to be the seven shirtless teenagers with B-A-N-D-I-T-S painted on their chests. They got three appearances on the video board tonight.

-Kilgour has not decided yet on who he will start in goal next Saturday, but he is leaning towards Mike Thompson. “It’s still up in the air” said Kilgour, and he will also consult with his players to assist him in making the decision.

-Portland squeaked into the playoffs with a 6-10 record in a weak West Division. Buffalo defeated the Lumberjax 14-10 at HSBC Arena in the final regular season game on April 26.

-Buffalo has won three championships in their franchise history - in 1992, 1993 and 1996. They went to the finals twice in recent years, losing in Calgary on the road in 2004 and to Colorado at HSBC Arena in 2006.

Mark Steenhuis addresses the media after the game

Fans were lined up ten deep at the ticket windows to get their seats for next Saturday’s championship game.

-Andrew Kulyk

There was a lot of buzz and excitement back in 2005 when the ABA Buffalo Rapids debuted here in Buffalo, giving the city its first pro hoops team since the NBA Braves departed in 1978.

But that excitement quickly disappeared as the team became enmeshed in cash flow and other operational problems, none more glaring than the team’s inability to secure a permanent venue to call home. The team moved from the Burt Flickinger Center to the Park School, Niagara Catholic, Buff State Sports Arena, Hilbert College and even the Gow School. Disgruntled fans, unable to find where to go from game to game, quickly bailed on the team. The owners left, new owners took over, the team was renamed the Silverbacks, and naysayers then threw ridiculous charges of racism against the team, citing the franchise logo bearing the image of a black gorilla.

This past season the franchise was inactive, but now the ABA is back, with a new nickname, new ownership, and returning is their former coach Rich Jacob, who held the team together through its darkest days and actually fielded a respectable squad despite all the off the court chaos and distractions. This time they are promising to make it work.

“We’re very excited” said Coach Jacob, who was on hand tonight as the “Buffalo Sharks” held a kick off party at Club Infinity in Clarence to welcome their supporters and start up season ticket sales.

The Sharks will play their home games at the Koessler Center on the Canisius College campus, and, as if to prove that there will be no repeat of the venue hopping which marred the franchise’s inaugural season, there was a certified letter on Canisius letterhead laminated and on display at the season ticket table, validating the secured agreement between the franchise and the college to host the home games of the Sharks. Officials from the College were also on hand tonight to welcome supporters and make themselves available for questions.

Owner Vincent Lesh has been a long time music and concert promoter here in Buffalo, and for him this is his first foray into sports management. “One thing I know how to do is put people into seats, and we’re going to promote the heck out of this team and bring basketball fans out to see this team” promised Lesh. Sharks season tickets run from $225 for courtside seats down to $75 for general admission, based on an 18 game home schedule. Lesh also stated that once up and running, tickets will be available at ticketmaster outlets and online at ticketmaster.com.

Lesh admitted that the Rapids/Silverbacks business model was a disaster from the get go. “I have no bad feelings towards the Nice’s or the Weir’s (former team owners) but their way of doing business is out the window. We’re going to run things differently to make things work.” Jacob added, “We have the experience now and know what worked and what didn’t so hopefully the benefit of that experience will pay dividends.”

The Sharks will have competition for the WNY pro hoops audience. Three weeks ago a competing ownership group unveiled the debut of the Buffalo Dragons, who will join the Premier Basketball League and play its games at the Flickinger Center downtown. The Dragons have come up with a unique business plan, intending to field a team of Chinese players and video stream its games into China.

We asked both Lesh and Jacob if this city can support two minor league basketball teams. Both chose their words carefully in their reply. “They are going to have their thing and we are going to have ours” said Lesh. “We have already signed up major sponsors, including Labatt and Met Life, who believe in our product and know we can develop and grow a fan base.” Jacob was proudly showing off some of his newly recruited players at tonight’s event. “These are young men who will have a connection to the community.”

So how did the “Sharks” nickname come to be? Lesh laughed and replied. “We had a sponsorship deal in place that involved the name and that fell through. But we liked the nickname and it stuck.”

The team has a web site, that for now is nothing more than their snazzy logo.

Remember that night back in 2005 when close to 4000 fans packed the Flickinger Center for the inaugural game of the ABA Rapids? The game was delayed for over an hour as fans stood in a massive line outside the venue to check in through one available metal detector. “Those fans are still out there in the community, and we want to win them back” said Jacob.

The 2008-09 Sharks season begins in mid November, with the schedule to be announced later this summer.

-Andrew Kulyk

Critics panned the design for the Pittsburgh Penguins’ new arena, now under construction in downtown Pittsburgh, as “too cold and uninviting”. So the team and their architects, HOK Sport, came back with a revised exterior look which will feature a more inviting, brightly lit exterior. The plans received approval from the Pittsburgh City Planning Commission this week.

The arena is scheduled to open for the 2010-11 season.

Here are some renderings of the new design -

The Montreal Gazette reports that Olympic Stadium, former home of the MLB Montreal Expos, will most likely be getting a new metal roof, to replace the kevlar tarp that has been in place since the venue opened in 1976. It never worked quite right, and has been a permanent fixture of the stadium.

If approved, work should begin following the November 23 CFL Grey Cup game.

Speaking of Grey Cup, the USRT has secured our game tickets for the event, and we are eagerly looking forward to this road trip to one of our absolute favorite travel destinations on the continent! We are keeping our fingers crossed for an alignment of the planets, and a home game of the QMJHL Quebec Remparts that same weekend, It would mean a visit to Quebec City and the Pepsi Colisee, which of course is a former NHL venue.

The Q releases their 2008-09 schedule in July. Here’s hoping!

You know. I mentioned something in the last NBA Playoffs post that really deserved a bit more of a mention than it did and probably a post of its own is deserved.

Heck yea, it does.

If you’ve lived in this town for a long time and are in your fourties or higher, then you certainly remember the short and sweet stint of the Buffalo Braves and their superstar center Bob McAdoo. I don’t need to rehash what he did as Brave, or that his scoring prowess while in Buffalo was the catalyst for his eventual induction into basketball’s Hall of Fame in Springfield a few years back.

But what many people may not know is that he did not hang up his sneakers after his NBA playing days ended in 1986. He simply took his high scoring act across the sea to Italy starring for Philips/Tracer Milano, Fabriano and Forli while pumping in twenty seven points per game in a seven year span in which he led Milano to two Euroleague titles. He finally called it a career in 1993 ending a tenure in pro ball that lasted over two decades.

What’s the big deal, you ask?

This season the Euroleague is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with the announcement of a list of its fifty greatest countributors(players,coaches,officials) and on that list is none other than Bob McAdoo. McAdoo joins plenty of other notables including Manu Ginobli, Vlade Divac, Mike D’Antoni, and Drazen Petrovic who made big names for themselves on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Congrats Bob, on a highly esteemed and much deserved honor!

It’s one of the oldest storylines in all of sports. Two clubs compete against each other with plenty at stake and on paper the matchup appears to be a complete and total mismatch. One side is the epitome of what the best in its sport is all about, the other appears to be nothing but fodder for them on the road to expected glory.

Except no one told the “fodder” of its role, and instead of them disappearing quickly off stage as expected they put up a valiant effort that catches all who watch completely off guard and set themselves up for an opportunity for a victory that fans will remember for years to come.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Eastern Conference Quarterfinal Series between the Boston Celtcs and the Atlanta Hawks!!!

Yep, the mighty Celtics. Winners of more NBA titles(16) than any other club, homecourt of enough legends to build their own Hall of Fame wing. Owners of the league’s best record this season.

And there’s Atlanta, mediocrity personified. A long history themselves, for being nomadic(Buffalo, Quad(Tri)-Cities, Milwaukee, St. Louis) and pathetic, with one NBA title fifty years ago and not having seen the playoffs this decade. Even this season qualifying with a playoff worst 37-45 record. But hey, Dominique Wilkins was a heckuva player for a while there in the 80’s. Really.

As Dickie V. would say: “A total M&Mer, baby!”

If you’ve been paying any attention at all you know what’s happened. An energized Hawks club came to life in its three games at the suddenly raucous Philips Arena and has forced this series to go where no one thought it would. It is the only first round series to go the distance, the one headed for that classic two word phrase that defines an important game in a postseason series: Game Seven.

What in the name of Lenny Wilkens and Spud Webb is going on here!!!! Game 3 was Atlanta winning purely on their youthful exuberance and athleticism. Game 4 was Joe Johnson taking over down the stretch and refusing to leave the court without a W. And in Game 6 the Hawks saw Johnson become the focal point of the Celtics vaunted D and yet they scored on sixteen consecutive posssesions in the second half to gain control over a game which would be salted away when Johnson nailed a huge three with just over a minute to go.

Game 7 is in Boston ( Sun. 1PM ABC) where the Hawks have lost their three playoff games by an average of twenty two points, so obviously a win would be a tall order. And to make things worse, starting forward Marvin Williams(part of a trio of talented young frontcourt players) is listed as doubtful with a knee injury.

An Atlanta win would be the biggest upset in a postseason series in NBA history and the biggest in ANY sport (MLB, NHL, NBA) in quite some time. Since the NBA adopted the current sixteen team playoff format 1984, only three #8 seeds have defeated a #1 in the first round and really, two of those don’t hold a candle to this one. Last year’s Warriors team beat the Mavs, yet had also had swept them in the regular season and had come into the playoffs on a full head of steam. The ‘99 Knicks over Miami? Please, that was the lockout shortened season and only six games separated the two at season’s end.

That leaves the ‘94 Sonics/Nuggets series which had eerily similar circumstances to this one. The Sonics had the best record in the league and all of the first four games were won by the home club before Denver won the deciding game five in overtime in front of a stunned Key Arena crowd.

This would be a best of seven series that should have been a complete mismatch. And in a sport where you need an entire team to outplay the other in an entire series (unlike baseball where pitching is everything, and hockey where goaltending enjoys similar importance). A bigger and more difficult upset under such circumstances would be hard to find, wouldn’t it?

I’ll make no prediction so as not to be accused of jinxing by anyone. But I’ll be watching. Will you?

Some other thoughts on the first round that was……….

Barkley was right. The Wizards were the dumbest team in the NBA for calling LeBron “overrated”.
How’s this for a stat line: 29.8 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 7.7 apg vs. the Wizards. Helluva job shutting him down guys. That physical strategy worked wonders for you and put one of your own players out on suspension for the sixth and final game. Enjoy the golf course guys, and thanks! Way to make me look stupid in picking you to win the series.

Another barb going out to the mainstream media concerning James: Remember last year’s Conference Finals against Detroit where LeBron passed the ball off to Donyell Marshall for the game winning shot(missed) and was ridden mercilessly for not taking that shot himself?

I couldn’t help but notice how quiet the same media was after LeBron ran the EXACT SAME PLAY in game 4 with Delonte West taking the shot. Couldn’t have been because West made the shot, right????

Agent Zero….you were exactly that. I applaud your effort, but sit it out if you can’t help the team next time will ya.

Hey! I actually caught some of the Rockets/Jazz series. Just as I thought, it took the NBA’s second longest win streak ever to get the Rockets in the postseason. Since they weren’t on it during the postseason they were easy pickin’s for the Jazz. McGrady notwithstanding.

I REALLY want to know what was said in the Pistons locker room during halftime of Game 4, the entire series seemed to turn on it as Detroit dominated the rest of the game and series.

I thought Philly was a great hoops town. Why were there over five thousand empty seats at the Wachovia Center in the deciding Game 6?

And finally! Your WNYM round 2 predictions!

(2) New Orleans vs. (3) San Antonio

Looks like another great series with some great mano y mano matchups. Chris Paul v. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan v. Mark West highlight the marquee for this one. My heart would love to see the Cinderella story continue in New Orleans, and quite frankly I think this team’s all around balance gives them the opportunity to do it. But my mind goes with the status quo thinking that until I see the Spurs go down I’m not going against them. Spurs in 6

(1) Lakers vs. (4) Utah

The Lakers did to Denver what Boston should have done to Atlanta. Sweep them without breaking a sweat. This series ought to be fun to watch as both like to turn on the jets and have solid point guard play(Fisher/Williams). But how is Utah going to be able to stop the Kobe/Pau combination?? Being able to do so is their shot to beat them, gooooooood luck. Lakers in 5

(2) Detroit vs. (3) Orlando

Detroit’s stifling defensive system gets a big challenge in shutting down the potent Magic offense. Rasheed v. Howard will be interesting as will Billups v. Nelson. But if Detroit is as inconsistent in this series as they were against Philly then……
Magic in 6

One last thing before I go. The Euroleague is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary by naming a list of its fifty greatest contributors. I happened to find a nice little video of the members of the group. While even the most diehard of hoop junkies won’t know many of the names, there are some that are well known. One in particular having strong local ties.

Watch and find out who, til later!!!

Tonight at HSBC Arena the Buffalo Bandits defeated the Philadelphia Wings 14-12 in the first round of Champions Cup action, before a happy and boisterous crowd of 9344 orange and black clad fans.

I didn’t need to be in my seat at HSBC Arena in time for the 7:35 faceoff. I started the evening at Dunn Tire Park at the Bisons game, caught an inning there, and as soon as I headed out the door and down Washington Street, I could hear Annoying P.A. Guy being piped out on the streets of downtown. “What’s he Got!!???”…. “Steenhuis!…… Ohhhh…. No goal…crease violation”. This silly screeching circus… only in Buffalo!

By the time I got settled, meeting up with Pete, who was already at the game, it was 4-1 Philadelphia, thanks to three straight Philly goals midway through the first quarter, as the Bandits sleptwalked through most of the opening frame. Said Mike Accursi “I think our sticks were a little too tight and it took and it’s an important game for us and we realized that after a bit.”

Buffalo came storming back in the second quarter, scoring five straight of their own, none prettier than John Tavares’ goal which tied it at 5, wide open in front of the goal receiving a lead pass from Roger Vyse. Seconds later, Billy Dee Smith gave the Bandits their first lead of the night, and one could feel the momentum shift in the building. Buffalo added two more before the half, taking an 8-6 lead into the locker room at halftime.

While Buffalo’s Delby Powless got the third quarter’s first goal to give the Bandits a three goal cushion, the Wings stepped up the physical aspect of their game and made this one interesting. With Wings leading scorer Athan Iannucci leading the way, Philadelphia rattled off the last four goals of the quarter, which ended 10-9 Philadelphia after three.

The season being on the line, it was the Bandits who came out smoking in the fourth, taking control of the game by confounding the Philly attackers as they tried to transition out of the defensive zone, and getting key blocks and intercepting passes to keep the Wings hemmed in deep. After going scoreless for over a quarter, Delby Powless finally got the the equalizer at the 4:58 mark, then it was the Mike Accursi show, scoring Buffalo’s 11th and 12th goals. Kevin Dostie gave Buffalo a two goal cushion with a huge goal, his third of the night with a little over three minutes left, then Buffalo wisely used the clock on their possessions to kill off precious time. Dostie said there was no sense of panic. “I think our team is used to it” said Dostie. “That’s when we battle our hardest and it’s tough being in close games like that. Hopefully next week we can walk away with one and not worry about it.”

Billy Dee Smith was also a huge factor in tonight’s game, scoring two goals, including an empty netter in the final minute. Philly added one more late and the game ended 14-12.

This game could be broken down into a tale of quarters, with Philadelphia controlling play in the 1st and 3rd, while the Bandits were in command in the 2nd and 4th. Said Coach Darris Kilgour “It hit us as we headed into the 4th… This is it. This could be our season. Let’s just quit complaining and put our heads down and get to work.”

Kilgour explained that his strategy of conceding faceoffs and concentrating on the transition game worked to his team’s advantage. “I think it frustrated them a lot more than the last game.” Kilgour also admitted that the uncharacteristic lack of penalty trouble was also not a factor. “You know what? We don’t talk about that anymore. We don’t care as long as in the course of the game we don’t do anything stupid after the whistle. We’re an aggressive team, and that’s the way we play and it’s worked out pretty well for us.” Accursi added “It makes every possession that much more important. It adds pressure to the defense but to the offense too. We know they are going to get 26 more possessions so every progression is important.”

The Bandits await the winner of Saturday night’s game between the New York Saints and the Minnesota Swarm. Whoever wins that game will come to HSBC Arena to play the Bandits in round two of the Champions Cup playoffs. Said Kevin Dostie, “Of course the home floor is an advantage and we have the best fans in the league. Us knowing they wanted another game gave a lift to the entire bench. Hopefully they will be there to cheer us on next game.”

Faceoff next Saturday is 7:30PM at HSBC Arena. Bandits Media Director Ashley Scanlon reports that should the Bandits win that game, the NLL Champions Cup game will be played on Saturday, May 17 at HSBC Arena. That game will be televised nationally across the USA and Canada.

-Best sign of the night: “Bandits ticket $25, Prom tux $40, Limo $140…Skipping out on date to go to Bandits game, Priceless!”

-Props to Annoying P.A. Guy for one good laugh…he asked for a cheer from the folks in the 300s. The upper deck was empty!

-And speaking of Annoying P.A. guy, there was one point the 4th quarter, about midway. Buffalo had taken an 11-10 lead at the time and looked like they were clearly taking control of the game. During a media timeout, the crowd started a spontaneous cheer which grew and grew into a standing ovation. It was an absolutely electric moment. Thankfully, he kept his yap shut and let the crowd take over.

-Most hilarious moment down in the locker room after the game came courtesy of goalie Mike Thompson. With a portly build and not exactly a qualifier for a model in an underwear catalog, Thompson stepped out in the hall to address the media bare chested, wearing only his goalie pants held up by suspenders. The second he spotted the TV camera from Channel 7 waiting with the writers, he exclaimed “Omigosh A TV camera, I’ve got to get a shirt!” He high tailed it back to the locker room, emerging 30 seconds later wearing a t-shirt and his hair quickly combed.

For years and years now, the New Jersey Nets have been slated to move to Brooklyn, to a new showcase arena named the Barclays Center.

The timetable for all this to happen has been pushed back again and again and again, and now new lawsuits, combined with the ongoing credit crunch, threatens to derail the entire project, according to today’s New York Times article.

Meanwhile, Nets owner Bruce Ratner is playing footsy with New Jersey Devils owner Jeff Vanderbeek and other interests in Newark. Could the Nets end up as the second tenant in the Prudential Center, when all is said and done?

“We [don’t] Love This Team”

In this week’s Play Ball, we delve into the Bisons’ miserable April record.

Check it out!

Back in 2006, the USRT paid its official visit to St. Louis’ new Busch Stadium, which we will go out on a limb and name the final of the HOK “retro themed” cookie cutters which will ever be built. Admittedly, we were there when the ballpark was still pretty new - the left field outfield was still under construction, the old Busch Stadium site was a hole on the ground, and the bonehead things the front office did, like putting the retired numbers on an ad panel facing the outside of the stadium (among others), has been rectified.

Yesterday we got an email from someone named Scott Treiber (presumably from St. Louis), who very succinctly pointed out things we may have not expounded upon in our venue profile, and passionately defends his home venue. It’s very well put together by Scott…

Let me point out a few things that you may not know:

The brick facade is retro, but did you know that the color was picked from the famous and historic Wainright Building? A building that many architects consider the first true skyscraper in the world.

The old ballpark was famous for its arches. Did you know that the new one has them too? They aren’t the same, and in all fairness, it wouldn’t be right to copy the old design. The new arches are designed from St. Louis’ historic Couples Station.

Did you know that the Musial Bridge on the 3rd base side was designed after St. Louis’ historic Eads Bridge that was built in the ealry 1820’s and was the only way to cross the Mississippi River. This is part of what made St. Louis one of the three transportation hubs of the entire country.

Did you know that from the street level in center field down to the field is a 40 foot drop, which meant the scoreboard could be positioned lower and smaller to allow for dramatic views of the Gateway Arch?

You already know that they kept the old manually operated scoreboards.

Did you know that the ballpark’s brickwork is adorned with various versions of the Cardinals’ logos over their 120+ year history?

Did you know that we still have Big Mac Land?

Did you know that we still have one of baseball’s best organists, Ernie Hayes?

Did you know that the light standards were designed to have the lights in vertical columns instead of horizontal because it’s easier for outfielders to find a pop fly?

Did you know that each of the luxury suites and party suites is named after a Cardinal Hall of Famer or current Cardinal?

Did you know that outside the Cardinals Club behind home plate is a beautiful statue of Gussie Busch? The Cardinals once proud owner.

You already know that they still play the Budweiser Clydesdale’s “Here Comes the King”.

Did you know that after the Cardinals won their 10th World Series Championship, now their NL Penants and World Series Championships are proudly displayed above the league scoreboard outside the first base exterior?

I know that you liked the tributes to the hall of famers at the old ballpark…but you couldn’t see those flags anyway. Now they are permanently displayed below the main scoreboard (in larger lettering now) and the left field wall.

I know you don’t care for the position of Stan the Man, but when you walk across the street (Spruce Street) and look back at the Musial Bridge with his statue right below…it looks perfect and wouldn’t look good anywhere else!

I know that you think the video replay and other technology “failed the test” but in all honesty, we don’t need some oversized gawdy looking scoreboard. We have also seen ballparks that over-use the LED ribbon boards, and we just don’t think that baseball was meant for all of those electronics. People love Wrigley Field for that reason. I personally think that the Cardinals made a statement with their scoreboard. We don’t need something huge. Don’t forget that the league scoreboard is twice as large as it was in 2006.

I think you gave Busch Stadium a pretty poor rating when it didn’t quite deserve it. You visited the ballpark when it was still going through growing pains. And you may remember that the ballpark was even completed when you were there. Given the fact that the new one overlaps the old one, construction crews did an amazing job getting as much done as they did. Don’t forget, Busch Stadium is only 3 years old.

The new Busch Stadium is by far better than Petco Park, Camden Yards, Minute Maid Park, Miller Park, Great American Ballpark, U.S. Cellular Field, Safeco Field, Jacob’s Field, Texas Rangers Ballpark, Coors Field, Rogers Centre, Yankee Stadium, Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, Kauffman Stadium, and Angels Stadium.

I think you really missed the mark on this one!

Scott

For the record, Busch Stadium ranked 21 out of 30 in the USRT ratings. Hey, we’d be happy to do a return visit to St. Louis and see the place again - one of the cities we really like visiting again and again!

This one’s for all the diehards out there paying close attention to the NBA Playoffs.

Yeah, me and the other three of you out there. OK, maybe four or five.

For the past week or so I’ve done the following: Work in the daytime, come home and watch hoops until I go to sleep late at night. Little if any Stanley Cup Playoffs for me (just tell me how the Sharks are doing as I’ve got them in the pool), no visits to the downtown ballpark, and setting records for fastest click of the remote control to NBA TV anytime I hear or see the words “NFL Draft” coming out of my HD set.

Week one of the “most wonderful time of the year” is in the books and your unofficial(self appointed is more like it) WNYM NBA postseason correspondent is here with some offbeat commentary on the games that were. Maybe somewhat of an awards ceremony, if you will.

The “Why Home Court Matters” Award.

The Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks were manhandled in their first two games in Boston in losing by an average of twenty one points and were looking exactly like a young team with a losing record that hadn’t been to the postseason in nine years.

Enter Philips Arena into the equation and my oh my how quickly things change. The youthful Hawks overran the Celtics playing with a bundle of enthusiasm and energy led by the rim rattling exploits of Josh Smith. And voila! We have a series(maybe)! Tip of the hat as well to Michael Bibby for doing the nearly impossible and making the series interesting after calling out Celts fans for being “bandwaggoners”. Uh, Mike…you’re playing in the king city of bandwagon sports fans. Just sayin’

The “Hello America, Now You Know Who I am!” Award.

Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets. Chris has had an impressive career thus far in winning the ROY award in 2006 and has been mentioned as a prime MVP candidate this season with LeBron, Kobe, and KG. But let’s face it, spending your NBA career in Oklahama and New Orleans isn’t exactly going to get the word out about yourself, and not making the playoffs adds to that as well.

Enter Games 1 and 2 in New Orleans as Paul scores 69 points dished out 27 assists in two routs of the Dallas Mavericks and in the process completely outclassed future HOF point guard Jason Kidd. Paul leads a outstanding Hornet team that is solid in nearly all facets of the game. Shooters? Peja Stojakovic. Muscle underneath? Tyson Chandler, David West. Bench? Jannero Pargo, Bonzi Wells. If the Hornets stay together in the future, look out!

The “Funniest Moment of the Playoffs” Award.

This may be the best highlight of an otherwise dull series.

Honorable mention to Philips Arena going without the shot clock for much of the second half in game 3. Those time clock operators probably date back to the franchise’s days at Memorial Auditorium. (Yes, THAT Memorial Auditorium!) Speaking of the Aud….

A moment of silence to remember the passing of Darrell Garretson. He was a longtime NBA official working games for nearly thirty years also serving as NBA Supervisor of Officials for years as well.

But here in Buffalo he will always be the man whose whistle effectively ended the Braves 1974 season in Game 6 of their series against the Boston Celtics. His foul call on Bob McAdoo as time ran out in regulation of a tie game sent Jo Jo White to the free throw line for the series ending free throws. Very likely the most infamous referee whistle ever blown in Buffalo. Ever.

The “Ummm, Remember Us???” Award.

The San Antonio Spurs. Amidst all the hype of the stacked Western conference, the surging Lakers w/ Gasol… The reworked Suns w/Shaq… The Cinderella story in New Orleans…the 22 game win streak in Houston, the Spurs were admitttedly somewhat lost in the shuffle. The winning of the first two games of the Suns/Spurs series did help a bit, but it wasn’t until they annihilated the Suns on the road in Game 3 that eyebrows were raised. The Spurs raced out to a huge lead in the first quarter and never looked back with Tony Parker lighting up the LED board with 41 points. On another note….

The “Why You’ll Never Be Amongst the All-Time Greats” Award.

Shaquille O’Neal. Anybody who gets fouled intentionally at points of the game outside the final two minutes of play probably gets this award. But really, we’ve been hearing about this guy’s weaknesses at the charity stripe since the days of Kareem Abdul Jabbar and O’Neal is still a basket case when it comes to free throws.

That door you just heard slam shut could be one of two things(if not both). 1: The Suns’ championship window of opportunity, or 2: Steve Kerr packing his goods in Phoenix and headed back to being a televsion analyst.

The “Trends I Find Most Disturbing” Award.

Two share this award. First is the “fans wearing same color Tshirts for the playoffs” promotion that is sneaking its way into the NBA. Two major problems with this. One, this is a hockey thing, it simply doesn’t look right anywhere else and lets hope the trend doesn’t spread to the NFL or MLB. Also only the color white is acceptable. There have been some pretty hideous colors in the stands this past week taking focus away from the action.

Another trend somewhat unique to hockey is the whole “we gotta send a message to the other team” crap. In basketball it has appeared in the form of a hard and cheap foul in the final moments of a blowout. There couldn’t be a more utterly useless waste of energy than seeing Brendan Haywood knock LeBron James to the floor towards the end of Game 2, ditto Hornets/Mavs Game 3(the combatants’ names escape me right now). Leave that hockey stuff where it belongs.

The “We’re Trying to Build a Winner Like the Ottawa Senators Circa Late 90’s-00’s” Award:

The Toronto Raptors. If you love a bunch of stereotypical finesse Euros bombing three’s from the perimeter with Chris Bosh as the token inside guy, well then you’ve found nirvana at the Air Canada Centre. Carlos Delfino, Andrea Bargnani, Jose Calderon(k, he does have some toughness in him) and Jason Kapono(well he’s got a Euro sounding name!) fire away from downtown. When the shots go in, its a joy to watch. Otherwise….bleccchhh!

The “So THAT’S What Became of That Guy” Award:

Jameer Nelson. Remember him? The leader of the St. Joseph’s basketball team in ‘04 that had an undefeated regular season and wound up being the consensus player of the year? There he was Saturday in Toronto jamming the dagger into the heart of the Raptors season in scoring 12 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter on the way to giving the Magic a 3-1 series lead.

Runner up - JJ Redick, riding the end of the bench for the same Orlando club.

The “Schizophrenic, Playing to the Level of Our Competition Team” Award:

The Detroit Pistons. Is this the team that won fifty nine games during the regular season? Or is it the team that gave the lowly Knicks their two brightest moments of the season in defeating the Pistons twice? Seems like we’ve been seeing more of the latter here.

On a good note, an upset of the Pistons may be a good thing. If nothing else hoops fans won’t have to be treated to the ear-splitting - nails - screeching - across - the blackboard sound of the Pistons PA guy. DEEEEEEE-TROIT BAS-KET-BALL!!!!!

The “There’s a Reason I Haven’t Said a Word About This Series” Award.

The Utah Jazz/Houston Rockets.

Zzzzzzzzzzzz…..

No, I’m not insinuating that this has been a dull series and quite frankly far from it. The Z’s signify what I was doing when Houston rallied to win game 3 and Memo Okur made a critical rebound late in game 4. A novel concept would have been to have had at least ONE of these games begin prior to 10PM ET during this series.

Well, that wraps up this edition…..see ya as the playoffs progress!!!