Back in January when the Indianapolis Colts fired general
manager Bill Polian I suggested the Bills snatch him up in a New York minute. I’d
still like to see the Hall of Fame-caliber football architect return to the
team he transformed from basement dwellers into perennial Super Bowl
participants.
But I
also believe current GM Buddy Nix deserves a chance to reap the fruits of his
labor. Nix, who at age 72 is three years older than Polian, has had a whale of
an offseason – luring in coveted free agents like Mario Williams, re-signing
playmakers such as Stevie Johnson and Fred Jackson and addressing several needs
via the draft.
To me,
Nix has made all the right moves. Even the signing of the talented but
inconsistent Vince Young to a relatively cheap contract to be a backup QB looks
like a smart acquisition. It appears that Nix has given coach Chan Gailey the
tools he needs to make the playoffs. And I like the fact that Nix, in that
folksy style of his, has told coaches, players and the fans that he expects to
win now.
***
Polian,
of course, will be back in Buffalo this fall for his induction onto the Ralph
Wilson Stadium Wall of Fame. His selection was a no-brainer and the timing was
right because he currently isn’t employed by any NFL team. It still bothers me,
though, that neither Cookie Gilchrist nor Lou Saban aren’t on the wall.
Gilchrist, the team’s first superstar, and Saban, who coached the Bills to
back-to-back AFL crowns and resurrected O.J. Simpson’s football career, are
glaring omissions, and should have been enshrined long ago.
***
I see
where the Los Angeles Angels have decided that batting coach Mickey Hatcher was
the reason Albert Pujols, the $254-million man, has gone from being the best
hitter of his generation to a punch-and-judy hitter. Can you say $capegoat?
***
For those of you keeping score at home in the
Roger Clemens perjury trial, that’s two jurors ejected for falling asleep while
court was in session.
***
I was
happy to see Art Monk become the latest person with Syracuse University ties
earn induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. He was a great player on
some mediocre Orange teams. But I believe teammate Joe Morris is more
deserving. Little Joe rushed for more than 4,000 yards and remains SU’s
all-time rushing leader – not bad, considering the lineage of running backs at
the school includes Jim Brown, Ernie Davis, Floyd Little and Larry Csonka.
***
Speaking of SU football, coach Doug Marrone
received some great news yesterday when highly regarded receiver Quinta
Funderburk announced he was transferring from Arkansas. Funderburk (love that
name) is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound wideout who caught 64 passes for 1,412 yards and
15 touchdowns for Oscar Smith High School in Chesepeake, Va., two autumns ago.
The four-star recruit had chosen Arkansas over USC, Florida, Michigan, Penn
State and Clemson. He did not play in any games last fall, so he will have four
seasons of eligibility remaining after sitting out this season at SU.
***
I’m
happy to announce that my 15th book – Johnny Antonelli: A Baseball Memoir – is out and available at www.amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble. Antonelli, a five-time
Naitonal League All-Star and World Series hero, is the finest born-and-bred
baseball player in Rochester history and became even more successful as an
entrepreneur in the tire business following his playing career.
Johnny,
82, will be inducted into the Adult Recreation Association Hall of Fame at Red
Fedele’s Brook House in Greece Sunday at 5. Joining him will be fellow
inductees Dick O’Toole, Al Russo, John Risolo, Rocco DiPonzio, Brian Murphy and
Dick Webster.
Johnny
and I will be signing books at 4 and will conduct a 10-15-minute
question-and-answer session about his extraordinary career during the banquet.
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at the door or by contacting Ron
Evangelista at 585-764-6500 or Ronevengelista911@gmail.com
I’ll
have more information about our book and future signings in an upcoming blog.
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