A recap of February and March for NHL teams, with the knowledge that waiver pick-ups will complete NHL general managers' designs:

Anaheim
Gets: A boatload of young players and three who immediately help out (Ryan Whitney, James Wisniewski and Erik Christensen)
Gives up: Chris Kunitz, Travis Moen, Kent Huskins, Steve Montador, Sami Pahlsson

--- Trading for Whitney is a really smart move, even at the expense of a prospect in Eric Tangradi and Kunitz. When Scott Niedermayer’s time is done, hopefully Whitney will have learned enough defensively to not be a very big drop-off.

Moen is a fun player, but the only other true non-Kunitz loss here is Pahlsson, who clears up cap room and is having a very rough year (You may recall his name from the list of guys I wanted the Sabres to acquire). You could also count Mike Brown and Sheldon Brookbank as deadline pick-ups (Feb. 3&4).
GRADE: INC (but if you really want a grade, B)

Atlanta
Gets: Eric O’Dell, Anssi Salmela, two picks
Gives Up: Erik Christensen, Niclas Havelid, Mathieu Schneider, conditional pick

--- I would’ve done a lot more if I were the Thrashers’ GM, but Salmela may really work out, and O’Dell is playing well as an 18-year old in the OHL. Christensen likely ran naked through wherever he was when he heard the news that he was leaving Atlanta. I’m hoping it was somewhere awkward, like a science museum.
GRADE: D

Boston
Gets: Mark Recchi, Steve Montador, 2nd round pick
Gives Up: Petteri Nokelainen, two prospects

--- You have to remember that the Bruins are so playing so well, and are so deep, that they could call Barney the Purple Dinosaur up, and he’d carve a guy’s face with his stick before adding two assists and a plus-2. Boston’s biggest question mark remains what it’s been all-year: Can Tim Thomas keep playing the best hockey of his career? If he doesn’t, Manny Fernandez is still hanging around. It’s funny, I wouldn’t totally fear the Bruins in the first round as a Sabres follower, but it’s also hard to imagine Boston won’t come out of the East.
GRADE: A

Buffalo
Gets: Dominic Moore, Mikael Tellqvist
Gives Up: Ales Kotalik, 4th round pick

--- Color me “not super pumped” about a guy who is finally scoring on a dump of a hockey team, and wants first line money for showing up for the first time in five years. Moore has been traded three times in his career at age 28, which means teams wanted him, but also means teams were willing to get rid of him ("Duh," right). Feel free to be excited to have a more complete player than Kotalik, but please don’t think life is gold. Moore wore an ‘A’ in Toronto, so that has to count for something.

I was completely underwhelmed when Moore’s name came up, and I hate myself for sounding that jaded, but the Sabres essentially swapped UFAs, and picked up a decent third-string goaltender. For those thinking Moore will sign… you better figure out where the money is coming from, as you’ve got Vanek (7 mil), Roy (4), Pominville (5.3) and Connolly (4.5). Toss in Hecht and Gaustad at 3.5 and 2.3, and you’ve gotta think Connolly was your 2009-offseason-signing-come-early. In fact, his signing seems to make Darcy Regier’s summer (Stafford, Sekera, Kaleta, MacArthur RFA) near-impossible. Not to look too far down the road with a playoff rush on, but trades have to go down, right?

All that said, are they better than they were before Wednesday? Absolutely, but if he can play even at Jeff Halpern's level, the grade goes up, and it's an unqualified success (If that happens, he will get 2 mil. somewhere).
GRADE: C+

Calgary
Gets: Olli Jokinen, Jordan Leopold, 3rd & 4th rounder
Gives Up: Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, Lawrence Nycholat, Ryan Wilson, Kevin Lalande, 1st & 2nd rounder

--- The Flames’ goal had to be to leap into San Jose and Detroit’s class and, already having the best backstop of the bunch in Miikka Kiprusoff, I have to think they’re at least awful close. I don’t know much about Prust, but you can handle giving up everything else except Lombardi, and you have to do sacrifice something for a Cup run. When Kevyn Adams hinted that a move might be coming because Mike Keenan saved Jokinen’s career while in Florida, it started to make sense that the move would happen. Leopold is good, but not as good as many would lead you to believe.
GRADE: B+

Carolina
Gets: Erik Cole, Jussi Jokinen, picks
Gives Up: Justin Williams, Wade Brookbank, Josef Melichar, pick

--- I like Cole better than Williams, and the former Oiler will be jazzed to be back in Raleigh (It reads weird, but go with me). Didn’t improve a great deal, but it’s not like they could acquire a Fountain of Selke Youth for Rod Brind’Amour. Plus, Williams has terrible facial hair.
GRADE: B-

Chicago
Gets: Sami Pahlsson, prospect, pick
Gives Up: James Wisniewski, prospect

--- It’s a trade that makes sense for both teams, and as much as I pull for the Blackhawks, they aren’t losing much in the offseason, so why not let your entire roster gain experience, since Chicago would likely have to beat Detroit and San Jose/Calgary to make the Finals.
GRADE: B

Colorado
Gets: Lawrence Nycholat, Ryan Wilson, 2nd rounder
Gives Up: Jordan Leopold

--- Eh. Yawn.
GRADE: C

Columbus
Gets: Antoine Vermette, Kevin Lalande, 2nd rounder
Gives Up: Pascal Leclaire, 4th rounder

--- Productive day, and one that will help Columbus a little more than Ottawa. Leclaire is out for the year, and Steve Mason has been as good as the World Juniors advertised. Vermette is a solid face-off guy who skates very well. They also grabbed a 2nd rounder that should be fairly high, and a goaltending prospect in Lalande, who is a former fifth round pick with dynamite AHL and ECHL stats this year.
GRADE: A-

Dallas
Gets: Brendan Morrison (from waivers), Steve Begin
Gives Up: Sean Avery (to waivers), Doug Janik

--- Morrison is alright, and can contribute immediately to Dallas’ kill. Begin will help as well.
GRADE: B-

Detroit
Gets: Nothing
Gives Up: Nothing

--- No need.
GRADE: N/A

Edmonton
Gets: Ales Kotalik, Patrick O’Sullivan
Gives Up: Erik Cole

--- On paper, you’d rather have Cole, who has underperformed in Edmonton and will surely be much better in Carolina, but in this case two bodies are better than one. The young Oilers are a sneaky team to keep an eye on.
GRADE: C+

Florida
Gets: Steve Eminger
Gives Up: Noah Welch, 3rd rounder

--- Bouwmeester goes nowhere, and Welch again moves at the deadline at a young age. Eminger helps right away, but not a ton.
GRADE: C+

Los Angeles
Gets: Justin Williams
Gives Up: Patrick O’Sullivan, 2nd rounder

--- Don’t like the move at all. To me, Williams is underwhelming on a consistent basis, and his aforementioned terrible facial hair will fit in great in L.A.
GRADE: D

Minnesota
Gets: Nothing
Gives Up: Nothing

--- Better “Connolly up” with Gaborik, and I think they will, with a core around him and no other pressing UFAs.
GRADE: INC

Montreal
Gets: Mathieu Schneider, Glen Metropolit (waivers)
Gives Up: Steve Begin, Picks

--- I’m glad I’m not a Habs fan today, though I’m not entirely sure anything short of Lecavalier or Bouwmeester would’ve appeased the centennial celebration. Will they be having some sort of feast at some point, complete with knights and maids? If so, count me in.


Nashville
Gets: Nothing
Gives Up: Nothing

--- Emblematic of the franchise, but I’m not sure what they should’ve done. A number of Western teams did what they should’ve – no buy, no sell. It would’ve been interesting to see if they could’ve received a fool’s ransom for Jason Arnott.
GRADE: N/A

New Jersey
Gets: Niclas Havelid, prospect
Gives Up: Anssi Salmela

--- They signed Brendan Shanahan earlier, and I’m not sure the Devils system ever needs crazy additions at the deadline. They kinda get Martin Brodeur at the deadline, too.
GRADE: B-

NY Isles
Gets: Conditional pick (no higher than third round)
Gives Up: Bill Guerin

--- Better pray you win that draft lottery, or relocate, because all seven true Isles fans are furious. I would’ve gone for more picks in getting rid of Doug Weight, Richard Park and more. Long Island, you might as well stink with style, like an old prom tuxedo… or Long Island.
GRADE: F

NY Rangers
Gets: Nik Antropov, Derek Morris, Sean Avery
Gives Up: Nigel Dawes, Petr Prucha, Dmitri Kalinin, picks

--- Thanks everything for the New York Rangers, who did so many more wonderful, garbage, New York Ranger things. Congrats on Nik Antropov, Derek Morris and Sean Avery. So solid! Antropov is a classic Ranger who will look great in one out of three games, and disappear for the rest. Derek Morris was supposed to be a Norris Trophy break-out since he was in Calgary. He’s a name, and not much else. Then, there’s Avery, who actually would be a good pick-up… if the majority of his team didn’t hate him. I’m sure him playing “less angry” will benefit his game. At least they got rid of Prucha.
GRADE: F-

Ottawa
Gets: Pascal Leclaire, Mike Comrie, Chris Campoli, 2nd round pick
Gives Up: Antoine Vermette, Dean McAmmond, 1st round pick

--- At least they still have Chris Neil. I’m not positive Leclaire will be any better than Brian Elliott’s career arch is headed. Bryan Murray needs to be fired, especially if Campoli can’t regain his form in Kanata.
GRADE: C-

Philadelphia
Gets: Daniel Carcillo, Kyle McLaren
Gives up: Scottie Upshall, picks

--- Forget giving up Scottie Upshall and a second-round pick in three drafts, the Flyers get a prototypical Flyer. Carcillo is the type of dirty mucker who will immediately endear himself to the City of Brotherly Dirty and, at 900k, that’ll work for Philly next year. He hasn’t produced offensively this year, but he’s what Patrick Kaleta may be in a year or two, mostly because he knows he has to fight (572 penalty minutes in 129 career games).

As for McLaren… uh… with Mike Rathje and Derian Hatcher out of the line-up, they needed a 1999 big name to fill the void (He’s better than both, but I have to think they put all their eggs in the Bouwmeester basket, and then placed all the heavy food on top of it in the shopping cart).
GRADE: B-

Phoenix
Gets: Scottie Upshall, Nigel Dawes, Petr Prucha, Dmitri Kalinin, Matthew Lombardi, Brandon Prust, 1st & 2nd round pick
Gives Up: Derek Morris, Daniel Carcillo, Olli Jokinen

--- Is this the year? Is this the year that stockpiling prospects and getting rid of underachievers actually benefits a team? Or is this year the Coyotes move to Fiji? Lombardi and Dawes are nice pick-ups, and I don’t see a huge drop-off for Phoenix. Unfortunately, nine points is out are nine points too many, but I’m pretty sure they got better. Kalinin is a UFA, and Prucha is an RFA… so… peace out, money.
GRADE: B+

Pittsburgh
Gets: Chris Kunitz, Bill Guerin, Andy Wozniewski, prospect
Gives Up: Ryan Whitney, Danny Richmond, conditional pick

--- If the Pens made the playoffs with the Kunitz deal, they earned the No. 6 seed with the Guerin pick-up. This team is very dangerous, if only because the NHL would love to fix a round for them. Did I type that? Good.
GRADE: A-

St. Louis
Gets: Danny Richmond
Gives Up: Andy Wozniewski

--- Not-plussed. See my Nashville review, and insert Keith Tkachuk for Jason Arnott. Four points out in the West.
GRADE: N/A

San Jose
Gets: Travis Moen, Kent Huskins, sixth-round pick
Gives Up: Kyle McLaren, prospects, conditional 4th round pick

--- Moen is a very nice pick-up, and makes the potential Sharks/Red Wings series that will somehow not happen all the more interesting
GRADE: A

Tampa Bay
Gets: Richard Petiot, Steve Eminger, Matt Lashoff, Martins Karsuns
Gives Up: Olaf Kolzig, Mark Recchi, Andy Rogers, Noah Welch, Jamie Heward, 2nd, 3rd &4th round picks

--- The Recchi deal was beneficial to both teams, as Lashoff and Karsuns are both extremely-promising former 1st and 2nd round picks. The Petiot deal is a head-scratcher for both teams, and the Lightning gave up a lot of draft picks.
GRADE: B-

Toronto
Gets: Olaf Kolzig, Martin Gerber, Andy Rogers, Jamie Heward, two-2nd rounders
Gives Up: Dominic Moore, Nik Antropov

--- A productive day… I guess… but the Toronto media needs to calm the heck down. Burke’s “genius” may start in the summer. Getting rid of Antropov is a nice deal, and Moore’s going to have to do a lot to be considered a first-line money guy, or second-line money guy, for me. Rogers is a former first-rounder who hasn’t done much in the minors.
GRADE: C+

Vancouver
Gets: Nothing
Gives Up: Nothing

--- Their move was signing Mats Sundin. See Nashville and St. Louis, only better.
GRADE: N/A

Washington
Gets: Nothing
Gives Up: Nothing

--- I have precious little faith in Jose "Propecia is a performance-enhancer" Theodore, but the Caps could out-score their way to a round or two. If they were going to get fleeced for Nikolai Khabibulin or Manny Fernandez, the move isn’t worth it.
GRADE: INC

Email: nick@wgr550.com

EDIT NOTE: I wrote this a couple weeks back, when rumours were circulating about a growing divide between Broncos gunslinger Jay Cutler and new head coach Josh McDaniels. On Monday morning, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported that Cutler has requested a trade. So, rather than write another column saying the same thing, I wanted to remind you of all the reasons I wanted the Bills to pick up Cutler... and why I feel even more strongly about it this morning.

Trade for Jay Cutler.

It's a phrase that just makes sense, as long as you aren't an NFL overthinker. Throw it up there with "Go Get a Back Rub" and "Take A Nap." If they are viable options, you take them. Just like Jay Cutler.

Look, I don't care what you think you see in Trent Edwards. Jay Cutler is better right now. He was a Pro Bowler on a team with a garbage defense. Think he's too much of a gunslinger? He had to be.

If you called me this afternoon with the news that Trent Edwards and a first round pick, or Marshawn Lynch and a second-round pick were gone, and Jay Cutler and Laveranues Coles were Bills, I'd buy two season tickets immediately, and forgive the multiple train wrecks involving the organization since the Fall.

This is the easiest opportunity to get a franchise quarterback for dirt cheap. The parameters are out there in the media, and in front of every NFL executive. The Pats were going to get a first and third, the Bucs would get Cutler, and the Broncos would get Cassel. So Denver was willing to give up its quarterback and a pick for Cassel. Give them out quarterback, running back or a pick. Easy peasy. (EDIT: NOW, Cutler has asked to leave, which may actually lower what Denver can get).

Sure, Cutler's a little cocky in the way he speaks and throws a football. You know who else was? Brett Favre. Jim Kelly. Scott Bakula in "Necessary Roughness."

Sometimes, it's just simple. If Denver is silly enough to deal Jay Cutler, you see what it will take to get him. WIll the Bills do it? I highly doubt it, but let's just toss this out there with every other dream deal out there. Someone is going to do it, and unless Cutler moves to Iceland to help export woollen goods and ferro-silicon alloys, the move will work out for the buyer.

Email: nick@wgr550.com`

Just a quick thought... an immediate reaction if you will.

As I sit here hosting Sportstalk Saturday, the reports continue to roll in regarding NFL free agency, and the celebrated Howard Simon Show question, "Are the Bills better today?", is unclear. Sure, they've signed a second-string signal caller in Ryan Fitzpatrick, but everyone in the AFC East has made a significant improvement in the first 24 hours of free agency.

(Fitzpatrick married a fellow Harvard athlete who played goalkeeper on the Crimson soccer team. Did the Bills get rights to their child?)

I'm not going to jump into the NHL rhetoric -- which may be true, according to my talk with Kevyn Adams -- that Buffalo is the opposite of a destination city, but you have to wonder what the heck is going on.

The Jets picked up a linebacker and cornerback who would be the best on the Bills, in Baltimore's Bart Scott and Philadelphia's Lito Sheppard, respectively. The Patriots received a second-round pick for their second-string quarterback, Matt Cassel (Kansas City), and also picked up Fred Taylor, away from the Bills. They also got a pick for a linebacker on the extreme downside of his career, Mike Vrabel. The Dolphins added a starting safety in Gibril Wilson.

I'm not saying things have to happen in the first 24 hours, and the truth is that the Bills could sign someone the minute I leave the studio to head for the gym. Still, this is a scary spot for Bills fans, who are facing a daunting schedule -- which could look less daunting come September, this is the NFL -- and opened up a hole at left guard by releasing Derrick Dockery, when there may have been something in return left by the fax machine (?!?).

Is it absurd to suggest the Bills best moves would be the two with the fewest question marks. Re-inking Angelo Crowell and Jabari Greer would bring back two guys who their teammates like. You might doubt that about Crowell, but look at it from the athlete's perspective... he left one day after he knew he would get paid. That's the culture.

As far as Greer, I have a feeling that Detroit is going to give him dollars that ensure a private island, but if not, why not fork over the bucks for a corner who knows "the system." Greer isn't a world-beater, but he's solid, and hopefully after 2009, you're looking at him as the No. 2 to an improved Leodis McKelvin, with Terrence McGee getting far too much money somewhere else.

Look at it this way: the Jets hole is.... quarterback. Maybe running back. Either way, with Sheppard across from Darrelle Revis, and Scott behind that defensive line... wow. The Dolphins and Pats certainly have less holes than the Bills. There's a lot of work to be done, and it can be, but if Friday is the starting line, the Bills got a start that is average at best, and the other runners might be faster, anyway.

Theser are just some quick thoughts that could be moot in 20 minutes. I don't care if that's irresponsible: nick@wgr550.com

Scanning the list of NFL free agents, here are five quick names that jumped off the bottom of the page:

Chris Simms, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Simms isn't a name that's really "under the radar," but I'd love to see him get a shot. Had a miserable start to 2006 before that pesky exploded spleen thing put him down for almost two years. The 10-TD, 7-INT season he put together in 2005 has lingered in my mind for a while now. Hard to believe he's 28.

Leonard Pope, tight end, Arizona Cardinals (RFA) -- The 6'8', 258-pound under-achieving monster kind of screams Courtney Anderson and whoever the other stupid tall guy the Bills signed in 2008, but hear me out. Pope was absolutely vicious for Georgia, and was behind several receiving options on the NFC Champs. Then again, we said the same about Bryant Johnson...

Kendall Simmons, guard, Pittsburgh Steelers -- The Derrick Dockery demons that say, "He comes from a good offensive line" trouble me, but may be a bargain coming off an injury that sidelined him for much of 2008.

Maurice Morris, running back, Seattle Seahawks -- Combining with Fred Jackson for a few weeks might be enough to lure him to Buffalo for some increased workload. I wonder if a one-year deal would sound about right to a guy who generally averages over 4.2 yards-per-carry but has never hauled more than 162 carries in a year. The Oregon Duck could end up back in Seattle, tempted by another chance to be a true No. 1 back if he can trump Julius Jones.

Andra Davis, linebacker, Cleveland Browns -- While I'm expecting the Bills to go OLB/DE with their No. 1 pick in April's draft, Davis would be a servicable alternative re-signing Angelo Crowell.

Email: nick@wgr550.com

(WGR 550) -- After playing for Toronto, Florida, Columbus, Carolina, Phoenix and Chicago, local product Kevyn Adams will suit up for the (radio home of the) Buffalo Sabres.

Adams will join The Howard Simon Show from 8 to 9 a.m. Thursday morning, as well as co-host a trade deadline show with me (Nick Mendola) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 4. We caught up with 34-year old Stanley Cup Champion and former first round pick of the Boston Bruins early Thursday.

Q: So you're retired, and back living at home... a lot of "returning the favor" to your wife for years of being out-of-town going on?

A: Yes. There's a lot of driving kids to school, and the fact that I haven't been traded this year is almost unbelievable, even though I'm not playing. I thought I still could get traded.

Q: What's Buffalo's reputation around the league?

A: It's very good actually in terms of living here in Buffalo, the guys love it. In terms of the organization itself, I think it's very good around the league. Guys like playing for Lindy and they know they're going to do it the right way. Guys sometimes get a little concerned when they come here, just because they don't know enough about the city, but once they get here, they generally like it.

Q: So, do you do ambassador work for Buffalo around the league?

A: I do. You can ask guys over the years. I've always spoken highly of this area. We'd come into town and everyone would get on my case because obviously the downtown needs a little work and that's all guys ever see, so I'd say, "Hey, there's a lot of nice areas..." I've always kept a place at Lake Chautauqua, so I had roots even when I was gone all those years.

Q: The Sabres are going through goaltender issues with Ryan Miller's high-ankle sprain, and now Patrick Lalime has a flu bug. You won a Cup with Carolina with Cam Ward and Martin Gerber splitting time in net. What's that like for a locker room?

A: Good question. I can't say we weren't concerned when Cam Ward went in net. We were down 2-0 in the series going into Montreal, and kid is a rookie. We got unconcerned real quick because he was just phenomenal. What calmed us in front of him was just his mannerisms. The kid was more calm at 20 years-old than all of us who had been in the league for a while. So, I think once he got on a roll, we were comfortable.

Q: You played a big role in helping Patrick Kane get acclimated to the league last year in Chicago. Obviously, folks around here think he's pretty special, but what's the scoop on him?

A: He's a world-class talent. It just oozes out of him. He's just so skilled. He does some things, even as an 18-year old last year, that I've never seen before with the puck. He's just going to have to realize that it's not going to come easy all the time. He's going to have to fight through some adversity as we go along here, but he's a special player and he'll be an elite player for a long-time.

Q: I've gotta admit, as a charter member of the beard club for young guys... your lack of that beautiful beard we saw in the 2005-06 Cup run is both disappointing, and alarming.

A: That was a good, nice red one. Maybe I'll grow it again, just to feel like I'm playing still.

Email: nick@wgr550.com

There are precious few moments where I know, I mean know, what's coming next in a hockey game, regardless of the score, situation, or teams. Saturday night felt like one of them. Sitting in section 121, I saw Rangers forward Scott Gomez charge behind the net, put his stick on Ryan Miller, along with his leg for good measure, sending the Sabres star goaltender to the ice.

Now, as a guy who would run a goaltender in his embarassingly-low-level playing days, I can tell you what's coming next generally isn't pretty, and as Miller limped back to his crease in the hopes of a puck accidentally hitting his chest, my eyes darted around the ice to see who would be heading after Gomez. Looked like Paul Gaustad.

Indeed, New York coach Tom Renney left Gomez out for the next shift, and Lindy Ruff didn't need to swap lines. There across from Gomez at puck-drop was Gaustad, Miller's good friend and a hulk of a man. The crowd was ready, booing and understanding that even on the softest of soft teams, something is going down.

The puck was dropped.

Gomez was off-balance.

Gaustad moved his arms into cross-check mode...

...Pushed Gomez in the back and skated away.

That'll teach 'em.

I can't recall a time I was more let down by the physical incapabilities of the Buffalo Sabres. Here was a non-fighting-5'11"-on-a-good-day-center who just up-ended your best healthy player. Here is a chance for literally anyone on your team, up-to-and-including Derek Roy, to pony-up for a teammate. Here is a moment that for the rest of his time in Buffalo, regardless of stature, fans can point to the moment that (Insert name here) got the gumption to do something righteous.

Instead we got Tim Connolly trying to get at Gomez five minutes after the fact, and the refs doing their best to ensure nothing happens.

What does it mean when the guy who steps up has a head injury history shakier than post-op Frankenstein? It means he didn't think anyone else would do the job. So, after two years of "Tim Whinerle" and "Tim Concussionly," I've got a newfound level of respect for No. 19, and a newfound bevy of questions for many of his teammates.

Welcome to a playoff run with no Miller, no Vanek, and precious little heart. For three weeks, I've been slowly-moving towards "Why not?" -- "The Sabres might be pretty good," Feb. 18 -- as I wrote last week. All it took was one moment, one ridiculous moment where your goaltender is treated like a character in "Street Fighter" to prove that nothing's changed.

No excuses. No "Gomez is a respected veteran" garbage, and I'm especially not buying what Lindy Ruff did to try and take blame off his team. If your coach has to make an excuse about not wanting to give up a 5-on-3 with a three-goal lead in the third period at home as if that is actually believable, there should be a level of embarassment.

You generally don't write this "column" unless you are 100 percent sure it's what you believe... unless you know that every word you write you'd say to a man in that locker room if challenged. And in the immortal words of one Forrest Gump, that's all I have to say about that.

It's all tough stuff, though I'm imagining not as tough as what lies ahead. Anyone need tickets for Tuesday?

Email: nick@wgr550.com

BEFORE YOU READ ANYTHING IN THIS BLOG... This has absolutely nothing to do with sports, and I am not a political expert by any means. What this is is a column on two things that mean something to me as a human being. This isn't featured on the front page of the site. It's just on my blog. In the interest of full disclosure, I'm a moderate who generally leans democrat:

You can read Dick Gregory's political comedy all over the Internet, and it's pretty darn funny. For example, this is a part of his routine from the early 1960s (For the purposes of this joke, it should be noted that Gregory is an African-American).

"Last time I was down South I walked into this restaurant and this white waitress came up to me and said, 'We don't serve colored people here,' I said. 'That's all right. I don't eat colored people. Bring me a whole fried chicken,'."

Yet the email I received this weekend from my sister ticked me off to no end. Gregory spoke at my sister's college, Colgate, this past Friday, and during a talk about conspiracies and not being naive, seemed to allege that Flight 3407 was a conspiracy. From Colgate's web site:


"In one piece, he suggested that the plane crash in Buffalo occurred because Beverly Eckert, one of the passengers on board, had requested that the investigation about her husband's death in the 9/11 attacks be re-opened two days earlier."

Look, Dick Gregory, I went to college, I'm moderate at best and I watch documentaries that uncover all the shady goings-on in America, but if you want to come into New York State and grandstand on what is surely an absurd concept one week after our region was shocked by a 50-death tragedy... Don't come back. I generally want to punch the "college is only for liberals" pundits in the face, but thanks for reinforcing the stereotype, buddy.

==========

I don't want to turn in my democrat card or anything, but I'm going to stay on the conservative side for a second. At church this Sunday, they laid out the new abortion rights bill that's going into the state legislature. With the understand that catholicism likely has a multiple-point agenda in the case, apparently one of the aspects of the bill is that Catholic hospitals would have to grant abortions under law to stay open, which as you could guess is completely contrary to the Church's teaching. Whether you're a freedom of religion person, or anti-religion person, I don't think that should fly. Maybe that's just me.

==========

Something funny about sports.

==========

Email: nick@wgr550.com