(*a
summary of select stories)
By Shawn Krest
There are honeymoons, and then there are wild summer flings. The Buffalo Bills’ first month under interim coach Perry Fewell has seemed more like the latter.
In his first few weeks on the job, Fewell turned things on their head. While Fewell was promoted from his role as defensive coordinator, once in the top spot, he opened up the offense. In their first game under Fewell, the Bills had the longest play from scrimmage in team history - a 98-yard bomb from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Terrell Owens.
By George Kuhn
Has there ever been a youth hockey player who hasn’t dreamed of skating for the hometown team? If so, that list wouldn’t include Angola’s Patrick Kaleta or South Buffalo’s Tim Kenendy.
By Chris Colleluori
With the Rochester Americans enjoying a remarkable turnaround season, former Amerks goaltender Craig Anderson didn’t want to feel left out. Anderson, who went 23-10-1 with Rochester in 2006-07, has backstopped the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche — the Western Conference’s worst team a year ago — to a 15-8-5 start. Anderson (14-7-5) is a big reason for the surprise climb in the Rockies. The NHL’s first star for the month of October tied the league record for wins in the month with 10, and had the surging Avalanche in second place in the Northwest Division through November. He closed the month by blanking the Tampa Bay Lightning for his league-lead-tying third shutout of the season, and his staunch play (2.57 GAA, .921 save percentage) has also garnered the Illinois native attention from USA Hockey as the 2010 Olympics loom in February.
In an exclusive interview with Sports & Leisure Magazine, Anderson spoke of his AHL memories, his battle to become a No. 1 goalie, and his ascent in Colorado.
By Leonard J. Mytko
The 2009 fantasy football season was full of surprises and breakthrough stars. Here at Sports & Leisure Magazine we look at some of those top new performers who have burst onto the scene and become key contributors for fantasy participants.
By Joe Kirchmyer
During his college football days, while playing quarterback for the University of Maryland in 1984, Frank Reich came off the bench in the second half to bring his team back from a 31-0 deficit to an improbable 42-40 victory over the Miami Hurricanes. At the time it was the greatest comeback in college football history.
Fast-forward to the 1992 AFC wild card playoff game and Reich, now playing for the Buffalo Bills, replaces an injured Jim Kelly and finds his team trailing 35-3 to Houston. No problem. As every football fan in Western New York knows, Reich would lead the team to a 41-38 overtime win — still the greatest comeback in NFL history.
Today, in just his second year on an NFL coaching staff, Reich is the quarterback coach for the Indianapolis Colts. You may have heard of his star pupil, future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.
By Gary Reeves
In my previous column I wrote about the great Russian hockey coach Anatoli Tarasov and his philosophy on the essence of teamwork.
In this column I would like to stress to all young hockey players Tarasov’s philosophy on what makes a good player.
By Joe Kirchmyer
Suzanne Taylor loved Memorial Auditorium, enough to publish a book devoted to the once magnificent structure that housed many of the greatest sports moments in Buffalo’s history. AUDieu: Buffalo Says Goodbye to the Aud, is a 120-page, full-color coffee table book that follows the Aud from its groundbreaking in 1938 to its demolition in 2009. Sports & Leisure recently had a chance to speak with the author, photographer and self-proclaimed “Aud Braud.”
By Paul McCarthy
Every email sent out by Charlie Donnor concludes with the following statement, “For those who see the world in BLUE & WHITE.” By the time I had met coach Donnor, currently UB’s Associate Director for Athletic Development, he had already been seeing the world in blue and white for many years. In fact, Donnor has now been involved in the UB football program over the past 40 years as a player, coach, and administrator.
By Rich Davenport
Holiday wishes for more fishes inside Doctari’s Fishing Forum. Get in on trout, ice fishing and some gift ideas for the angler you know.
What do Ron Canestro, Joelle Pollak, Blair Helton and Erin O’Brien all have in common? Answer they are all some of the best and most exciting scholastic basketball players in Western New York and they are all on the Sports & Leisure Magazine’s Sweet 16 players to watch this season.
Pickup the newest edition of Sports & Leisure to find out more about these young men and ladies!
By Chris Colleluori
The puck dangles free at the top of the faceoff circle to the right of the Syracuse Crunch netminder. With the Rochester Americans on the power play, the left-handed defenseman strides forward from his point position to corral the puck. He pivots on his right foot, glides backward across the hash marks ready to unload a cannon of a shot. Instead, he toe-drags the puck, leaving a hapless defender in his wake. With a flick of the wrists, the puck sails through arms, legs, sticks, and finally over the goaltender’s outstretched glove, under the crossbar, and into the back of the net.
It’s a move that brings the largest crowd of the season to its feet.
It’s a move that brings the hats raining onto the ice.
It’s a move that no defenseman makes unless he’s brimming with confidence.
By Casey Fenton
Following last year’s first round exit from the playoffs, the Portland Pirates were eager to be competitive out of the gate this season. Although they began the season 5-10-1, a 6-3 upset against the league’s top team, the Rochester Americans, has been a turning point for the young squad.
The Pirates, 9-10-2 through 21 games, defeated Rochester on Nov. 12 to end the Amerks franchise-record tying 11-game winning streak. At the time, the Pirates were last in the Atlantic Division but won three of their next five and continued to improve.
By Brian J. Mazurek
It was quite a 2009 harness racing season for Arm And A Leg, trainer Sherri Holliday and driver Kevin Cummings as they swept the Upstate New York Harness Writers Association meet and season-ending awards during the Night of Distinction at Batavia Downs.
Also honored on this special night were driver Jack Flanigen who received the Comeback Driver of the Year award, Gerry Sarama the Lifetime Achievement Award, Betty Tauber the Owner of the Year, Tuesdays With Mom and owner Peter Arrigenna for the locally-owned New York Sires Stakes Horse of the Year and Tom and Cathy Barzycki the Good Guy Award.
By Bob Caico
Read about all the local boxing action and find out what happened this month in Western New York boxing history.
By Ivan the Impaler
It’s double-barreled action this month! Ivan gives his Mixed Martial Arts rankings for 2009, and also touches on some of the absurdities going on in the national pro wrestling scene. We also have your schedule of upcoming local wrestling and MMA events all in one award-winning article.
By Jeffrey Levine
There are fans. There are fanatics. And then there are Tom Nola and Don Bartz.
By Casey Fenton
Any athlete can tell you the work they put in off the field is just as important as the product on it. Every college student has been through late nights and long classes to achieve their goals. It’s difficult to succeed in one; it’s phenomenal to excel in both. Senior offensive lineman Brian Monaco of Hobart & William Smith College football is one of those exceptional student-athletes. Monaco was one of 154 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, awarded by The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame and the 2009 NFF National Scholar – Athlete awards.
Football is a very different depending on the position you are playing. These activities I have outlined are beneficial for most. It is a good idea to research your position, the movements involved with it, and train in a manner that will translate most into your position.
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