I write about sports so often that I'm giving myself the gift of a birthday blog, and passing the benefits on to you. Here's a list of thinks I don't talk about a lot, but really enjoy:

1. Food and bars in Buffalo... You don't have to go on vacation to gain 100 pounds... just spend a week going out. A short list: Louie's hot dogs downtown, Mohawk Place, Big John's Pasta House in Tonawanda, The Nine-Eleven Tavern in South Buffalo, Founding Fathers downtown, Ilio DiPaolo's in Blasdell, Chef's downtown, et cetera. There's such a good variety that I'm terrified to leave out all the chefs, waiters and barkeeps who deliver on a weekly basis... Red Pepper Vietnamese in Amherst, Mexican Denny's on the Blvd (I think it's called El Palenque), El Canelo on Dingens... oh boy.

2. The song, "Your Humble Narrator," by Two Cow Garage... There's something to be said about a band who's goal is to kick your guts in with rock and roll, but there's something more to be said when they write a guttural "ballad" that has more garage-punk roots than a 1,000 year-old Oak tree on Bidwell. Micah Schnabel's voice probably isn't for everyone, but I don't much care.

3. Antonín Leopold Dvořák -- A friend emailed today asking if I liked classical music, and the answer is yes and no. I think there is a lot of mediocre material passed off as masterpiece, largely on account of pretention. The good stuff, however, is legit. I'm more a "piece" than composer guy, except in the case of Dvorak, who's music is genius. I would honestly say he has a lot of rock and roll in his music. Maybe I'm crazy and dumb, but he works for me.

4. Older movies that set standards in genre -- Next time you go to see the next big action, suspense or horror film, save yourself the trouble and rent:

1. Alfred Hitchcock's "Dial 'M' For Murder," "Vertigo," "Strangers on a Train," etc.
2. "Taking of the Pelham 1,2,3" -- the original. Walter Matthau > John Travolta.
3. "Die Hard"
4. "The Blues Brothers"
5. "The Shining" -- Like "The Godfather," I watch it almost any time it's on.
6. "Once Upon A Time in the West" -- the greatest Western ever made.
7. "The Last Waltz" -- Scorsese plus The Band. Any questions?
8. "Jeremiah Johnson"

If you're an "Art house" guy, this applies to you, too. Ingmar Bergman's "The Virgin Spring," also called "Jungfrukallan," is 100 years ahead of its time in haunting moral issues and more. Max Von Sydow is a more important Swede than any hockey player.

Recent "not necessarily great" movies that kicked my butt:

1. "Hot Rod" -- not for everyone, but totally irreverent and relatively-clean.
2. "Rocket Science" -- A stuttering kid tries to join a debate team.
3. "Stranger Than Fiction"
4. "Green Street Hooligans" -- Ten times better if Elijah Wood could act "tough"
5. "Good Night, and Good Luck" -- Glad I wasn't in the media during the Cold War.

5. Soccer... You don't get it, I know. You might even hate it. But do me a favor and tell me why, and we'll talk about things like how most American football games are 3-2.

6. is my least favorite number. So it's out.

7. Dogs

Thanks for all the birthday wish emails. You're all pretty swell: nick@wgr550.com

Why not?

It's a question I found myself asking during the Leafs game, at the risk of feeling "homerish." I mean, what happened to having fun watching the hometown team?

Truth be told, the Sabres took us on a wond'rous ride a few years back and followed it up by winning the most games of anyone in the NHL. We were spellbound, we were driven, and then we were let down by a bunch of kids who didn't know better, and a bunch of veterans who couldn't show them the way.

So, I ask again for this year... why not? If you think the Sabres are awful, then the rest of the league is even worse. Look at their records against the East's Top Ten:

Boston- 3-2 (home game left)
New Jersey- 2-1 (home game left)
Washington- 1-2 (road game left)
Philadelphia- 0-1 (Two road, one home left)
NY Rangers- 2-0 (One road, one home left)
Montreal 2-1-1 (One road, one home left)
Carolina 1-1 (Two road left)
Florida 1-1 (Two home left)
Pittsburgh 2-1-1 (Season series concluded)
TOTAL 14-10-2 (Seven road, seven at HSBC Arena)

Those are slightly misleading on account of shoot-out wins for the Sabres, but when you think about it, this team has a lot more stupid losses to teams like Atlanta, the Islanders and Ottawa than to the above teams. In fact, if you take out Buffalo's 8-6-1 record against the West, the Sabres' real pathetic record is against the East's 11 through 15 teams.. a moribund 8-6-3 against the bottom feeders

Plus, it's more fun if you watch the team as a contender. It makes all sorts of "Jochen Hecht and a defenseman for Pierre-Marc Bouchard's oddly-shaped head" fan-created trades possible.

---- For the record, the Hockey Buzz site has Buffalo and Calgary working a Tim Connolly/pick/prospect for Adrian Aucoin/top prospect deal... which is interesting if Buffalo is dealing a blue liner. I think a Super Trade between the teams is in order... Connolly/Hecht/Tallinder/prospect/pick for Conroy/Cammalleri/Aucoin. Let's do this, fellas. Darcy Regier hasn't super fleeced someone since Jakub Klepis for Mike Grier. Also, I am well-aware I'm making up trades that would never happen, so save the ALL CAPS, URE SO DUMM 2 THINK N-E WOULD EVR DO THAT emails. Please. ----

To be honest, the only teams I think the Sabres absolutely couldn't beat in a seven-game series are the Devils and Capitals, and one of those you could talk me into a win (Washington. Still pretty green, and Propecia between the pipes).

Ryan Miller's having the best year of his pro career. Thomas Vanek has decided that playing defense is alright. Chris Butler's even better than I thought he'd be, and Drew Stafford is playing like the guy we saw at North Dakota.

Sure when the Bills were 4-1, I asked "Why not?", and ended up getting a spinkick to the Adam's Apple, but I'm a sucker and I don't want to play the "jaded @$$" role my entire sports life.

Let's have fun, folks. It's hockey. It's Buffalo. Why not?

Email: nick@wgr550.com

Thanks to my brother Sam for sending the above photo. Now, before I get to Bills' personnel issues...

You don't care about performance-enhancing drugs.

You might care about the records broken on account of them, but you don't give a crap who is using them with the exception of the morbid curiousity that comes with knowing who is doing what.

Anyone who doubts this needs to take a step back and gaze at the hallowed New England Patriots. The news today is that special teams ace Larry Izzo is going to testify in the perjury case against Barry Bonds. Rodney Harrison was suspended for steroid use. No one is being asked to give their titles back.

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In getting prepared for my NFL draft podcasts and other assorted draft shenanigans, I've decided that the two guys I'm going to fawn over this year are on defense:

Penn State defensive end (now with linebacking capabilities!) Aaron Maybin and USC linebacker Ray Maualuga

At the outset of this year, I wanted the Bills to wind up with Maualuga, and I'm still down for the Trojan linebacker.

The Washington fan site "Hail Redskins" compiles every single mock draft they can imagine, and who the 'Skins selected. Can someone please do this for the Bills' draft? All Bills fans would explode with gratitude.

Side note: I also wouldn't hate if the Bills took Mississippi's Michael Oher, but that's because I read Michael Lewis' "Blind Side" about how left tackle is the most important position ever in the history of any sport, and that Oher may be better than Orlando Pace and Anthony Munoz's genetically-impossible mutant child one day. So... he sounds like a good idea.

They let him place point guard in high school basketball. "Let" being the key word.

Our own Joe Buscaglia has his mock draft out ahead of his trip the combine. He, too, has the Bills selecting a perimeter rusher, and I wouldn't hate the fella he chose, either.

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Marshawn Lynch is favorite on-field Bill since Chris Spielman, and Cornelius Bennett before that. All that said, his misconduct off the field has me 100 percent prepared to trade him if value is offered in return.

I know bad guys are good at sports, and that there are some on every team, but if you came offering a second- and a third-round pick, or a first, or a tight end who can play football with decent success rates in rushing and passing, I'd listen.

Heck, deal Lynch and Jason Peters together to the Bengals or the Raiders. They'd love these two. Then, sign Fred Taylor to go with Fred Jackson for the Fred offense. Idea doesn't sound right to you?

Why not? He's known as a character guy, and was drafted with the pick we dealt for Rob Johnson. Also all the folks who bought A-Train jerseys can do the whole tape trick. Make amends!

It's a goofy sort of day. I'm going to the dentist and then Napville: nick@wgr550.com

This is a little late coming, but there was no way I could focus on writing about a sporting event immediately after Flight 3407. So, a few days late, here's a diary of my trip to Columbus for the United States and Mexico in the hexagonal stage of World Cup Qualiftying. Hope you enjoy.

"Oh when, the Yanks... go marching in. Oh when the Yanks go marching in. Oh, Lord, I want to be in that number... when the Yanks go marching in... USA!" - crowd chant, 02/11/09, Columbus, Ohio.

Imagine driving through a parking lot, filled with fans of the opposition, singing and chanting in Spanish.

Mexican flags all over the place.

Commemorative sombreros being bought up like Hannah Montana dolls at Toys R' Us.

Spanish phrases hurled about where the only words you can recognize are terms for Americans and women's body parts.

Then come the sounds of brass, and hundreds of US supporters, clad in mostly red, marching over a hill outside the stadium and into the parking lot, playing American anthems and chanting USA. Now imagine this sea of red meeting at the front gates of Columbus Crew Stadium, and chanting face-to-face with Mexican supporters, fighting to see whose voice could be louder, whose patriotism more uproarious.

The best part? No fights.

I was taught by the fine folks in UB's English department not to use absolute terms like "always, never, and ever." I don't feel like I'm letting them down by saying that Wednesday's match was the best sporting event I've ever attended.

I had to take a picture after my new friend Jesus, from Old Mexico, traded jerseys with me, "FIFA Fairplay" style. It's the only time you'll see me wearing the colors of El Tri, but it will be framed on my "Maniterium" wall.

Jesus emailed me a couple days ago and asked if I remembered him. Of course, I did. I told him that my friends and I were thinking about heading down to Azteca for the US at Mexico game this summer, but changed our minds when we heard of the dangers, which include a police escort to and from the stadium, two hours before and after the event.

He wrote back, "It won't be dangerous if you're with me."

But will there be Modelo Especial, Jesus?

Email: nick@wgr550.com

P.S. One of Jeremy White's best friends from college caught a game ball and somehow managed to get it out of the stadium, and several members of "Sam's Army" caught the players' game-worn jerseys after the final whistle... so at least there are ways for my US Soccer experience to improve.

Other trips worth considering, if you are thinking of heading down:

April 1 - US vs. Trinidad & Tobago, 7:45 EST at LP Field in Nashville
June 3 - US at Costa Rica
June 6 - US vs. Honduras at Soldier Field (Hondurans play dirty)
Aug. 12 - US at Mexico in Mexico City (be brave)
Sept. 5 - US vs. El Salvador at Rio Tinto Stadium in Sandy, Utaj
Sept. 9 - US at Trinidad & Tobago
Oct. 14 - US vs. Costa Rica at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC.

Some historic venues in there, and a sweet new one as well. I left out the trips to Honduras and El Salvador, the former because I don't want you to die, and the latter because it's in a month.

P.P.S. My long-time buddy Nick plays rugby for Buffalo, and said seeing rugby on an international level is a pretty big thrill, too. I've seen pictures, and it looks legit, but it's missing something... a rivalry with Mexico or Canada.

A few weeks back I ran into Pierre McGuire at the morning skate, and dropped him some questions to get a national perspective on the Sabres and hockey. To say it went over fairly well with the readers is an understatement. So, I got the ears (eyes) of Yahoo! Sports' very own "Puck Daddy," Greg Wyshynski. If there are other folks, you'd like to hear from, email me: nick@wgr550.com

PART I: The Sabres right now

Q: Without Thomas Vanek, is there any chance the Sabres have enough offensive talent to stick in the four through six race out East?

A: Where his injury really hurts is on the power play. You just can’t replace a guy with 15 goals on the man advantage, when that’s almost 30 percent of the team’s total power-play goals for the season. If nothing else, perhaps losing Vanek is one of those glorious kicks in the ass a team’s depth players need in order to boost their offense. Ales Kotalik had power-play goals in two of the first three games without Vanek. That’s a start.

Q: My boss will slowly feed my arm through a wood-chipper if I don't ask you for some sort of inside scoop on the Sabres at the trade deadline. Buyers, sellers... in the check-out line?

Obviously, the Sabres would trade Maxim Afinogenov for a day-old Big Bite from 7-11 at this point, but he's in the same situation as so many other Sabres that would be on the block -- he's fragile, and that brings his value down. That said, it looks like the Sabres are going to be competing to the end for a playoff seed. So one would imagine they'll be buyers -- but only for expiring contracts, me thinks.

Q: In the past, we've seen Pascal Leclaire and Chris Osgood have better statistical seasons than Ryan Miller and Miikka Kiprusoff. I don't think many would debate that the latter two are better goaltenders, so what's more important: a defensive system or a top-notch goaltender?

A: Well, you’re talking to a Devils fan. So the obvious answer is that the most important thing is to have a defensive system with a top-notch goalie …

Seriously, though, I think having a world-class keeper is more important than anything, the Red Wings’ success be damned. In the Sabres’ case, I think the maturation of Miller has been the team’s best story, even better than Vanek. He’s gone from an above-average goalie that everyone assumed had one skate out the door pointed towards Detroit, to the face of the franchise and an elite keeper who is winning games on his own. It’s a crime that there isn’t more Vezina talk about Miller; anyone who’s watched him this season knows how good he’s been on most nights.

PART II: "Fun" with the NHL

Q: Which current third jersey is the worst in the league? Which team is most in need of a primary jersey overhaul?

A: The Atlanta Thrashers’ third jersey looks like someone chewed up a box of Crayolas and then puked all over a high school track warm-up suit. Or like Reebok actually ran out of money before they finished it.

Most in need of an overhaul: Colorado. I don’t feel there’s anything iconic about that logo and sweater that prohibits any alteration. They’re stuck with a dopey team name that restricts creativity, but anything’s better than a giant ‘A’ on a log flume.

Q: Honestly, we're a little jaded in Buffalo considering "No Goal" and John Leclair scoring a playoff goal against the Sabres through the outside of the net. Is Gary Bettman okay for the NHL?

A: The honest answer is that he gets more blame than he deserves, because some of the League’s bonehead moves (a goalie trapezoid, for example) aren’t his call. Ding him for the lockout. Ding him for the mis-marketing of the game, and for the constant stretching the truth about its health and future. Just don’t blame him for everything.

The answer I want to give is that he’s some sort of nefarious space vampire who has traveled to this planet to feed off of our optimism and gleeful nostalgia until there’s nothing left but empty vessels of apathy and bitterness.

PART III: Covering hockey, and hockey in the media world.

Q: What's the worst trade rumour someone's jammed into your email box? Got anything worse than "Vanek, Roy and two No. 1s for Patrick Kane and Kevyn Adams" two years back?

A: Oh, I don’t know … once in a while we get the “Malkin to the Kings!” crack pipe chatter.

It wasn’t a trade rumor, but I had a guy who was convinced that he knew Chris Chelios was retiring before a specific Red Wings game earlier this season. I know: Chelios, retiring, real shot in the dark right there … but what made this memorable was that the guy presented this elaborate, Da Vinci Code-like series of coincidences that had him certain it was going to happen even though no one else was reporting it. And I nearly threw it on the blog, because the dude was that convincing, with this Roswell crash sort of devotion. But in the end, it was about as accurate as Vanek, Roy and two No. 1s for Patrick Kane and Kevyn Adams.

Q: Hockey seems to have a more dedicated "blogosphere" -- punch me in the throat for using that term -- and dedicated Internet fanbase than many other sports. Is there a reason NHL fans are more drawn to "new media" than other sports?

A: Sure. It’s called “neglect.” The mainstream media followed the TV ratings and dedicated its resources to football and basketball and baseball, assuming that since hockey fans don’t watch their sport on the boob tube that they’re not out there going to the game or buying merchandise. Which was wrong.

So as coverage lapsed, fans needed another outlet for discussion and for news. The blogosphere provides more in-depth analysis, breaking news and interesting hockey talk for their teams in the U.S. than most of the U.S. newspapers do.

More importantly, the Web brings smart hockey fans together. By “smart,” I mean fans who get the references and understand the lingo and are able to hang in a debate without trying to change to subject to the NBA. For a lot of us in the U.S., that kind of hockey fan isn’t someone who we see every day of our lives. But go to a message board, go to a blog, go to a podcast, and there they are.

It should be noted that the fact that the NHL and many teams have embraced new media has helped nurture it. Hopefully that trend continues to reach places like Edmonton, where bloggers are currently treated like lepers with bad facial hair and cancer.

Q: Can hockey realistically make a ratings jump with its current national television package? I appreciate Versus' coverage, but if NBC keeps sandwiching its hockey with cartoons, infomercials and squirrel racing...

A: I don’t appreciate your elitist tone towards rodent racing. As I type this, I’m wearing a vintage Rocket J. Squirrel jersey.

The networks don’t matter much in regards to ratings. The ratings sucked on ESPN 10 years ago, and they still sort of suck today. What matters is reinventing the way the game is presented on television. HDTV is an important first step, but until we can tune into a game and go, “Wow, that really got close to what we experience in the arena,” then no one will be compelled to watch hockey on TV that isn’t already watching it.

PART IV: The Sabres and the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

Q: Will the Team USA goaltending look any different than Rick DiPietro, Ryan Miller and Tim Thomas?

A: That depends on DiPi’s health, of course. I’ve read Jon Quick’s name mentioned here and there. You want a dark horse? Robert Esche, who has a sterling international hockey record and played really well for the U.S. in the 2008 world championships.

Q: The Sabres have a nice number of American boys, and dual citizen Jason Pominville skated for the States in the world championships. Does he, or any of the other American skaters on the Sabres (Drew Stafford, Paul Gaustad, Tim Connolly) have any shot at wearing red, white and blue in Vancouver?

A: Jason Pominville is a lock, in my opinion. As much as I like Stafford, I’ve gotten the sense that Paul Gaustad would likely be the second Sabre to make the team. Again, based on nothing more than what I’ve read and what some in the know have said.

One Sabre, two Sabres, three Sabres … we’re still getting our asses handed to us by Russia or Canada. I’m as patriotic as the next guy … but can also read a roster. And ours doesn’t look like theirs.

Email: nick@wgr550.com

A girl we used to work with here at WGR has been on "Good Morning, America," this morning, and even as I write this, the thought of her talking about her sister passing away has me on the verge of tears.

This is as real as grief gets for our city, and it stings. I'm talking "tears on the keyboard" stinging, and for what it's worth my prayers are with the victims, their families, friends and everyone else. I make no apologies for putting my religion in this space today. For what it's worth, I need it.

There's a part of me that wants the Sabres to cancel the game against San Jose tonight. I understand the idea of "distraction," but there's a big part of me that doesn't want to be distracted. This happened, and the idea that anyone expects a sports team to "pony up for its city" is miserable.

I can barely stand working today. I didn't want to get out of bed, and away from my wife and dog this morning. I feel for the idea of the players and staff who may be mourning the loss of family, friends and co-workers, having to "put on a show" tonight, though certainly no one should expect great theatrics. All I can think about is that everyone at that arena, from the guy who buzzes in the media at the security table to the fellas who sit next to Jeremy and my season seats could be going through hell right now.

In the end, I might just invite family over to watch the game, and maybe that is what sports are for, at least in the long run. Yet, I'll be damned if I think forgetting the deaths of my Western New York neighbors is a priority for me.

God bless our city.

Life must somehow go on Friday morning as we try to deal with the horrible plane crash in Clarence. I've already heard from a friend who's dad lives next door to the house where the plane hit, and to think that a friend of mine shot at the basketball hoop in the picture that's on our web site next to a hellacious fire is very emotional. My prayers are with everyone who needs them, and here's hoping for anything remotely positive that can come out of this does. Email: nick@wgr550.com

Something happened Tuesday night that made me realize it's trade season. Although I was quite aware that it was the one-year anniversary of Richard Zednik getting his neck cut at HSBC Arena, a text message from a good friend sent me into an information-searching frenzy:

My friend's text: "zednik are you kidding me"

Call your sources, Nick! In my mind, the Sabres had traded for Zednik, and even more bizarre, it made a lot of sense for me. As I ripped through the Internet, I learned the truth: Zednik had scored the game-tying and game-winning goals in a comeback win over the Maple Leafs on his "anniversary."

It was time to start typing trade.

So, I got to thinking about players that could be coming to Buffalo, with the knowledge that Darcy Regier told Mike Schopp and The Bulldog that the Sabres would not be pulling off any "Zubrus-type" deals (1st-round pick and a prospect with NHL experience).

Here are five players that make sense to me:

1. Richard Park, New York Islanders -- Turning 33 in late May, Park is a solid penalty-killer who doubles as a threat to score on opposing power-play units' mistakes or overconfidence. He's a minus-5 with 24 points in 54 games with the Isles, who are almost certainly looking to add a useful body or two.


Park is signed through 2010 at 750k per season, and had notched eight points in 38 playoff games.

2. Marty Reasoner, Atlanta Thrashers -- While he would essentially be a rent-a-player, the 32-year old Reasoner makes a reasonable 1 million per year, and is a smart two-way player who is top-notch in the faceoff circle (52 percent this year).

Reasoner has seen action in 23 playoff games with the Blues and Oilers, and hails from Honeoye Falls.

The fake No. 3. Jere Lehtinen, Dallas Stars -- A four-million dollar rent-a-player? Totally up Darcy Regier's alley. He'll play right wing with a unicorn and Steve Winwood.

According to Wikipedia, Lehtinen is a huge fan of Slayer, so Toni Lydman would be jazzed to hang out, and Drew Stafford could have a metal line-mate.

The real No. 3. Radek Bonk, Nashville Predators -- Here's a rent-a-player that makes Sabre sense. Killer face-off winner who is down to block shots with his molars.


4. Samuel Pahlsson, Anaheim Ducks -- How much would you have to give up to snag an underachieving, at least points-wise, Cup-winning center who's bound for free agency in a few months? As a million-plus cap hit, perhaps the Ducks are resigned to losing Pahlsson, and perhaps the Sabres could receive a player who can counter-attack on a penalty kill with the best of them.

Pahlsson is currently recuperating from a viral infection, and is out until at least mid-February.

5. Zednik, Florida Panthers -- Call it a "blink" decision, but Zednik's always been just dangerous enough to hurt the Sabres, with 14 goals in 42 games against Buffalo. Has a history as a trade deadline success (Nine pts. in 12 games with '01 Montreal) and failure (Three pts. in 15 games with '07 Isles). How scientific is this: it just sounded right to me on Tuesday, and it still sounds about right now.

Honorable mentions:

Adam Hall, Tampa Bay Lightning -- a puzzling former prospect who looked like he was coming into his own with the Rangers a couple years back. Signed through 2011 at 600k per year.

Jeff Halpern, Tampa Bay Lightning -- paid a little too well for Buffalo at 2 million per year through 2010, I'm not sure Tampa would hand over one of the cogs in the Brad Richards deal. One of the top face-off men in the league at 57 percent.

Trent Hunter, New York Islanders -- This one's a dream, since Hunter should've been named captain of the Isles after only he, Park and Rick DiPietro bothered to show up to their first round series with the Sabres in 2006-07. He's gritty, he can score, and he's locked up through 2013 at just 2-mil. Turning 29 in July, Hunter should be a real player on a real team one day.

Email: nick@wgr550.com