September-2010 Buffalo Edition - PDF - Sports and Leisure Magazine

Fishing from page 8
Yellow Perch
Lake Erie ringbacks, scattered
for much of the summer
due to winds and high water
temps, start settling into fall
feeding haunts. Silver Creek,
Sturgeon Point, Seneca Shoals
and the “perch buoy” off
Dunkirk Harbor now show
decent schools in depths
between 55-60 feet. Live
emerald shiners work best,
but salted emeralds will work
as well.
Chautauqua Lake yellow
perch continue to dazzle
anglers of all ages, and the
perch factory is showing no
signs of stopping in the near
term. Any depth, anywhere
with minnows, jigs and grubs,
plastics take hungry perch
throughout the day; perfect
for parents to introduce their
AFC East from page 6
nerback Devin McCourty in
the first round.
The question marks are
pretty obvious. First and foremost,
can wide receiver Wes
Welker be as effective as in
years past following a torn
ACL in Week 17 last season?
Secondly, will quarterback
Tom Brady’s ongoing contract
negotiations become a distraction?
Lastly, can the young
defense rise to the occasion?
Miami Dolphins
The huge (literally) addition
came at wide receiver.
The acquisition of Brandon
Marshall must have third-year
quarterback Chad Henne salivating.
Looking back at the
missing components of a playoff
team from two years ago,
the wide receiver position is
one of the bigger question
marks. At 26, Marshall is still
young enough that one man
should make a difference.
The Dolphins also lured
Karlos Dansby, the most pro-
kids to the sport of
angling.
This and that
New 2010/2011 Sporting
licenses went on sale Aug. 16
and this license year expires
on Sept. 30. Remember to get
your new license, which takes
effect Oct. 1.
Changes to baitfish transportation
regulations are in
the works, and a public comment
period is open until
Sept. 10. Establishing a baitfish
transport corridor for
Lake Erie anglers will alleviate
the frustration many experience
as emerald shiners are aplenty
in the upper Niagara
River, yet regulations today
prohibit collection and transport
of this preferred baitfish
overland in a motor vehicle.
We need this one changed,
and science has shown this
change is more than warrant-
ductive linebacker
on the market, with
a glossy new contract worth
$43 million ($22 million of
which is guaranteed).
Perhaps the most undervalued
move the team made was
adding defensive coordinator
Mike Nolan. Your most recent
memory of Nolan might be as
the former San Francisco
49ers head coach sporting a
suit and tie on the sideline,
but in fact, he was the defensive
coordinator for the
Denver Broncos last season
and proved his worth. The
Broncos gave up the fewest
points during their 6-0 run to
start the 2009 campaign.
Turning around defenses is
nothing new for Nolan, who
began working as a linebackers
coach in 1982 at the collegiate
level, made his way onto
the NFL sidelines in 1987 and
stayed on the defensive side of
the ball until 2004.
Buffalo Bills
There were no VH1 cameras
trolling the sidelines in
Fantasy football from page 11
targets like Randy Moss, Wes
Welker and Julian Edelman,
Brady still has what he needs
to challenge the 4,000-yard
and 25-touchdown marks.
Matthew Stafford, Lions
Despite an injury-plagued
rookie season that saw him
throw seven more interceptions
(20) than touchdowns
(13), he still threw for 2,267
yards and could easily outdo
the handful of other quarterbacks
who get drafted before
him based purely on his natural
skill and new batch of
weapons (Jahvid Best, Nate
Burleson, Tony Scheffler). So
don’t be shocked if you see the
former Georgia Bulldog put
up close to 4,000 yards and
25-plus touchdowns this year.
Kevin Kolb, Eagles
Out goes Donovan McNabb
and in comes the apprentice.
Entering his fourth season
after three years of backing up
McNabb, Kolb is looking to
build right away on his only
two pro starts to date when he
threw for 391 yards and 327
yards respectively, and four
touchdowns. All indications
point to the Eagles continuing
to air it out with a rock solid
supporting cast around Kolb
in DeSean Jackson, Jeremy
Maclin, Brent Celek and
LeSean McCoy.
Joe Flacco, Ravens
With one of the league’s top
offensive lines, a dynamic running
back in Ray Rice and a
couple of new impact threats
at wideout in Anquan Boldin
and Donte Stallworth, a
potentially breakout season
for the third-year starter could
be in the cards. He had some
sensational showings last season,
especially early on, but he
also tailed off with five sub-
ed. To comment, visit
www.dec.ny.gov and click on
the Baitfish Regulations link.
Remember, take a kid fishing
and give the gift that lasts
a lifetime.
Rich Davenport is co-founder
of WeLoveOutdoors.com, an
avid outdoorsman and member
of the NYSOWA. His works are
also published in N.Y. Outdoor
News, Walleye.com and the
Buffalo News. Rich is also the
recording secretary for the Erie
County Federation of
Sportsmen’s Clubs, secretary of
the Western NY Environmental
Federation, member of the Erie
County Fisheries Advisory
Board and is the Region 9 Rep
NYSCC Big Game Committee.
E m a i l
rich@weloveoutdoors.com.
Pittsford, NY this summer
during training camp. There
was, however, a new head
coach, Chan Gailey, along
with a hard-hitting, fully
padded attitude. The Bills
opted to stay the course at
quarterback, bring back last
year’s shuffle, while adding a
shiny new Cadillac to their
stable of running backs in
rookie C.J. Spiller.
Their recently converted 3-
4 defense should steal a win or
two in 2010, as their defensive
backfield returns last year’s
rookie sensation Jairus Byrd
while welcoming back a handful
of injured players such as
cornerback Leodis McKelvin.
They also added veterans in
linebacker Andra Davis and
defensive lineman Dwan
Edwards. Less the Spiller pick,
the revamped front office
focused heavily on defense.
The most notable of the defensive-minded
picks were second-round
nose tackle Torell
Troup and third-round defensive
end Alex Carrington.
234 yard contests in his final
five games. All in all though, if
he turns the corner, he could
easily improve on his 2009
numbers (3,613 yards, 21
touchdowns).
Donovan McNabb, Redskins
Say what you want about
him being past his prime and
all, but McNabb is coming off
a very productive 2009 campaign.
He missed a pair of
games due to a rib injury, yet
still put together his third
highest career yardage total
with 3,553 yards and even
accounted for 24 touchdowns.
So as we saw with Brett Favre
last year, sometimes the risk is
worth the reward.
Other quality arms
Matt Schaub, Texans;
Carson Palmer, Bengals; Jay
Cutler, Bears; Matt Ryan,
Falcons; Eli Manning, Giants;
Brett Favre, Vikings.
Robitaille from page 3
So now that he’s getting
ready to return to his role as
analyst, does Robitaille have
any insight regarding the
upcoming season? Of course
he does!
“The whole deal is making
the playoffs. That’s the ultimate
goal. The team is trying
to improve upon last season,
with management still trying
to make good decisions on
where they need to get better.
At the end of the day, you have
to be thinking playoff hockey,
and playoff hockey is a different
animal where you’re talking
about playing every other
WNY golf from page 9
cart at $26. You may want to
experience the getaway that is
not far away and enjoy an
overnight package deal
including lodging and meals.
The fall foliage at Byrncliff is
some of the best you’ll ever
see.
A little to the north at South
Shore Country Club in
Hamburg (southshoregolfcourse.com)
you’ll find $28
fall rates including carts. The
best is yet to come at South
Shore because in October the
rates will drop another $5-$7.
Keep an eye on their website
for details.
Glen Oak in Amherst is a
Robert Trent Jones design that
features a great layout, a good
test of golf and continues to
make improvements to make
it one of the best golf courses
in the area. Starting Sept. 20
fall rates kick in as low as $29.
You can enjoy that rate weekends
after 3 p.m. or during
Glen Oak’s prime time of
weekdays before 10 a.m. I
always like to remind you of
the Tournament Club at Glen
Oak, which you can join for
Bills from page 3
advantage of their opportunity.
That’s what it’s all about.”
Of course, the real onus is
on the players to perform in
their limited opportunities.
“They did a lot of good
things,” Gailey said of the
rookies. “It wasn’t just one or
two and it wasn’t just every
now and then. They did some
very good things on the field,
and that’s where you have to
do it. You can do it in shorts all
you want in OTAs and minicamps,
but when you get to
training camps and games,
that’s where you have to go
Kilimanjaro from page 8
We continue on, and by
day six, tired and dirty but
still in good spirits, we’re
ready to summit, and that’s
the REAL challenge for sure.
By 1 a.m., we’re heading
up the steep and often rocky
path to the summit in the
dark, with only our headlamps
providing visibility. It’s
getting colder now, and the
altitude makes it tough to
breathe. It’s ALL mental now.
We’re all exhausted, but
something keeps us going.
night for
almost three
months. That can be difficult
for a player, so when you can
find players who really want
to go through that, then
you’ve got yourself something
good.”
“We’re also starting every
game with very good goaltending,
and not every team
can say that. Without good
goaltending, you’ve got no
chance whatsoever,” Robitaille
added. “Another critical part
of the season will be how the
defense holds up with the loss
of (Toni) Lydman and
(Henrik) Tallinder. Those are
two top defensemen who
just $30, establish
a USGA
handicap and
play in bi-weekly tournaments
throughout the year. It’s a lot
of fun if you like to play
“friendly” competitive golf.
The other “premium” golf
course in the Buffalo area,
Harvest Hill in Orchard Park,
is targeting the seniors for the
fall. If you are over 60, you can
tee it up at Harvest Hill
Monday-Thursday after 10
a.m. for just $29. Another
sweet deal. Harvest Hill, the
home of the First Tee of WNY,
continues to offer great programs
for junior golfers and
features a great practice area
for all ages.
Other places to enjoy great
fall rates are Beechwood in
Niagara Falls, Ontario. Owner
Brian Antonsen and company
are celebrating the 50th season
of golf at Beechwood and
would love for you to experience
their golf course at a
great rate. Fort Erie Golf Club
is a great “executive course”
featuring 18 holes, mainly par
threes, for all levels of players
to enjoy and at a great rate.
Gothic Hill is a par three
course in Lockport that fea-
out and perform and
play.”
The rookies probably
won’t see the field as soon as
first-round rookie C.J. Spiller.
Several of them will probably
not dress for the early games.
Some might only see action on
special teams. Considering
special teams is how most of
them made the cut, that’s fine
with them.
“Special teams is definitely
an important part of this
organization and they stress it
a lot,” Dominique Harris, an
undrafted defensive back who
was almost the fifth undrafted
rookie to make the team, said.
He survived the final cut only
This
continues
for
over SIX hours, and almost in
a daze I realize we’ve reached
Stella Point at the summit
some 19,000 feet above sea
level; we’re suddenly walking
on level ground, and just as
the sun begins rising I see
that we are now above the
crater - we’re nearly there!!
Tears sting my eyes, as I see
the sun peaking through, and
the huge glaciers are now
very near.
We officially hit Uhuru
Peak - 19,340 feet - at 7:15
played 20 to 25 minutes a
game. It’s imperative that
those holes be filled. You have
to be able to go with four top
defensemen to whom you can
dish out 20 to 25 minutes
every game.”
Fans will have to tune in to
team broadcasts to hear more
from the opinionated
Robitaille in the coming
weeks and months, as normalcy
returns to his career.
And, slowly, to his life.
Joe Kirchmyer is president of
Kirchmyer Media. To comment
on this story, send an e-mail to
jkirchmyer@verizon.net.
tures a fun course and a great
Friday fish fry. I recommend
the double header there.
Hickory Ridge, just east of
Albion features a campground
in addition to a fun, friendly
golf course and you can’t beat
their rates of under $20 with
cart. Last, but not least, if you
haven’t treated yourself to the
new Seneca Hickory Stick golf
course in Lewiston, do it. The
course features a ton of character,
a double green on nine
and 18, an excellent layout
and twilight specials that are
easy on your wallet.
The countdown to the end
of the season is on, but what
an awesome summer we had.
Fall promises to be another
great season and with all these
specials you need to keep it
going. Enjoy!
Rick Zurak is the host and
producer of the WNY Golf
Report TV Show Tuesdays at
6:30 on Time Warner Ch. 20.
He is also the Director of the
New York State Junior Golf
Tour. To contact Rick email,
zurakgolf@adelphia.net.
to be replaced the week of the
first game when the team
brought in a player off
waivers. “I can bring 100 percent
effort and 100 percent
commitment.”
Full effort and commitment,
combined with a committed
organization is almost
enough to get a spot on an
NFL squad. As Harris showed,
a little bit of luck and timing is
also critical, in order to beat
the odds.
“I was talking to Donald
Jones earlier and I was like
‘Man, we just made an NFL
roster,’” David Nelson said.
a.m. Sunday morning, and it’s
a balmy 12 degrees from the
top of Africa.
I call my wife Deb on a
satellite phone, and she’d just
gone to bed on what was still
Saturday night in Orchard
Park. I was so emotionally
charged up I could barely get
the words out “we made it!!”
Yes, we still had a long way
to go to get back down, but in
many ways, a part of me is
still up there enjoying the
view after a once-in-a-lifetime
adventure.