SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 3October-November 2014

C.J. Spiller couldn’t help but wonder how dangerous the Clemson Tigers’ offense would have been if it featured both he and Sammy Watkins as teammates.

At least those were among his thoughts after a Week 2 victory over the visiting Miami Dolphins where he and Watkins, the Bills’ first-round pick in May’s NFL draft, were the two most electrifying players on the field.

Spiller, a first-round pick out of Clemson in 2010, blazed down the right sideline for a 102-yard kickoff return in response to the lone Dolphins touchdown. Watkins, who also played his college ball at Clemson, capped the next drive with a 12-yard touchdown catch.

The touchdown reception – setup by a 47-yard run by Spiller – was the first of Watkins’ professional career. Including the touchdown, Watkins’ hauled in eight receptions for 117 yards and was targeted 11 times.

“You mean the Clemson connection?” Spiller said, asked about Clemson’s showing that day.

Credit the Buffalo Bills’ front office with this much: Through the first quarter of the season many of the offseason additions they acquired are making key contributions.

Veteran cornerback Corey Graham – a Buffalo native and Turner Carroll graduate – and running back/special teamer Anthony Dixon have each had a hand in leading the Bills to wins in two of the first four games.

Dixon has contributed by way of special teams and spot play at running back. Dixon even picked up a career-first, stuffing a punt from the right foot of the Dolphins’ Brandon Fields in the first quarter of the Bills’ second consecutive win.

Graham made a key interception in the Week 1 victory on the road against the Chicago Bears and recorded a team-high three passes defended a week later in a win over the Miami Dolphins. Add in the fact that Week 2 was Graham’s first time playing as a Bill at Ralph Wilson Stadium, and it was more than enough to put a smile on his face.“Yeah it was beyond,”

“Yeah, I mean that’s what we do! It was good, pretty much hit them with 28, hit them with 14.”

The breakout performance was good enough to earn Watkins NFL Rookie of the Week Honors. Spiller,

meanwhile, was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

“I guess they just didn’t have an answer for us,” Spiller said.“I was thinking what it could’ve been if we would have played together

‘Clemson Connection’ adds FIREPOWER for the BillsBy Charles Roberts

in college. It was great. I’m very happy for Sammy to get his first touchdown today. He had an unbelievable game. You can start to see DBs respect him as a young player. That’s what we need; we need him to continue to make plays like that along with the other receivers. It was a very special day for him to get his first touchdown. That’s one of many.”

Bills head coach Doug Marrone got exactly what he was looking for when he asked Spiller, who hadn’t returned kickoffs since his rookie season, to take on an additional role. And the touchdown was hardly a surprise to his teammates.

“It was crazy,” Watkins said of Spiller’s kickoff return touchdown.“That’s what everybody expected and it was like, ‘He’s going to run it back this time.’ I look up and see him running down the sideline, making that big play. I think that’s what sparked the game, and I think that’s what we need: special teams, and everyone coming together as a collective group.”

Despite not returning a kickoff since 2010, Spiller

Bills’ offseason additions making BIG IMPACT in early going By Charles Roberts

Graham said, beaming, asked if returning to Buffalo was everything he expected it to be. “

“It was beyond what I expected, the fans were so amazing today, and I felt the energy the whole day while we were

out there... They never let up. It was unbelievable; I never in a million years dreamed that it would be that special.”

Although Graham has seen significant playing time – even starting Week 2 in place of an ailing Leodis McKelvin – he’s still listed as a backup, with third-year pro Stephon Gilmore also ahead of him on the depth chart.

“Like I said before, we feel fortunate we have three starters back there,” Bills head coach Doug Marrone said of his cornerbacks.

Dixon, meanwhile, also picked up 60 yards on five rushing attempts against the Bears. But moving forward, his role will likely have a heavy emphasis on special teams.

“That’s how we’re going to have to win, by playing well on all three phrases,” Marrone said after the win against the Dolphins, a game in which special teams played a big role. “Special teams, really for the last two weeks, have done a heck of a job. We had a blocked punt; we had a fumble recovery. They’ve done a nice job the last two weeks.”

Wide receiver Mike Williams, a Buffalo native who was acquired in an offseason trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also made his mark in the season’s first quarter. Williams burned the Houston Texans’ secondary for an 80-yard touchdown in Week 4. The scoring play was his first as a Bill and the longest of his career.

said he had no issues taking on the extra task.

“Pretty much the coaches came up to me and asked me if I was to do it would I feel comfortable, and I told them I’d be fine,” Spiller explained.“It was something that I’ve done my whole life and hadn’t done in a while. My rookie season was the last time that I’d done it. I felt very comfortable, just having to get back into the groove of catching it, making great decisions. It’s pretty much just trusting your eyes, and when you see it, just try to hit it 100 miles per hour. There’s really no magic about being a kick returner. You

have to be patient, but as soon as you see it you’ve got to go full speed.”

For Marrone, it all boils down to finding ways to get the ball in the hands of Spiller, who shares time at running back with veteran Fred Jackson.

“It’s just like I told you guys early on with the touches and C.J. being an explosive player. That’s the type of stuff we’re looking for,” Marrone said.“I think he’s very dangerous back there. We were able to get a returnable ball and you see what he can do.”‘Clemson Connection’ adds firepower for the Bills.

Photo by Jeff BarnesClemson products Sammy Watkins & C.J. Spiller provide a spark for the Bills in the season’s first quarter.

Photo by Mike MajewskiOffseason addition Anthony Dixon has been a key contributor for the Bills.

C.J. Spiller Photo by Joe Valenti

SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 4 October-November 2014

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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Publisher & Editor Marian GiallombardoAssociate Editor Jeffrey LevineFeature Writers Paul Adamo, Robert Caico, Rick Davenport, Mike Dyer, Mike Fox, Paul Gotham, Ivan the Impaler, Joe Kirchmyer, George Kuhn, Jeffrey Levine, Christopher Fee, Adam McGill, Brian Michalek, Ron Montesano, Len Mytko, Dave Ricci, Charles Roberts, Dave Sully, John Williams, Mark Zarbo, Rick Zurak (golf editor) Chief Photographer Jeff BarnesStaff Photographers Nick LoVerde, Joe Valenti, Mike Majewski, Holly Malinowski Cover photos C.J. Spiller & Sammy Watkins by Jeff Barnes; Rasmus Ristolainen by Bill Wippert/Buffalo Sabres Advisory Board Phil Haberstro, Adam Lingner, Denny LynchContributing Writers Kevin Bonk, Todd Etshman, Jack Godzuk, Mark Harzynski Sr., Kevin Krauss, Holly Malinowski, Bob PleziaLayout & Cover Alex Getz, Meg Kinsley, NYGMSonline.comGraphic artist Liz Seivert, Shannon O’Hara Copy Editors and Office Assistants Len Mytko, Justin Vernold, John WilliamsPlease send your letters, questions, and comments to: Sports & Leisure Magazine, 192 Louvaine Dr, Buffalo, NY 14223 or e-mail publisher@sportsandleisuremag.com. Please include your name, address and phone number or your letter can’t be published. All letters and responses become the property of Sports & Leisure Magazine, they may be printed, and are subject to editing. Sports & Leisure Magazine is circulated throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario. All rights and trademarks reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the express written consent of the publisher is strictly prohibited. ©1997 - 2014 Sports & Leisure Inc.Facebook: Sports and Leisure Magazine and Hugesportz.com

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A lot can happen in four weeks and nothing illustrates this better than the start of the Buffalo Bills’ season. After a hard-fought road win in Week One at Solider Field, the boys in blue returned home to Ralph Wilson Stadium to squish the fish, cheer on a cancer free Jim Kelly and get a good first in-person look at Sammy Watkins. The wide receiver from Clemson was taken No. 4 overall in this year’s draft after the Bills traded up to nab him. In addition to Watkins’ first career touchdown, Clemson fans back in South Carolina had another reason to cheer as former Tiger CJ Spiller returned a kickoff an astounding 102 yards for a highlight reel touchdown.

On top of all that, the game came just days after it was made known that Terry Pegula, the owner of the Sabres, had succeeded in the bidding process and will be

able to buy the team.Even with two losses

following the 2-0 start the Bills have showed a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. Free agent WR Mike Williams hauled in his longest touchdown ever and first as a member of the Bills and veteran cornerback Corey Graham made a key interception in Week One against the Bears. Plus, fans probably don’t mind that he’s a WNY native and Turner-Carroll High School graduate.

With all the excitement on the football field, we should pause to acknowledge that baseball is winding down and hockey is starting to heat up. As the Sabres move from training camp to pre-season to being on the cusp of the regular season, fans are eager to see some meaningful games played at the First Niagara Center.

Although many are

predicting the Sabres to finish among the bottom of the league, the team has a bevy of savvy veterans brought in as well as young picks looking to stick around or improve with the big club. Sam Reinhart, this year’s top pick, has impressed at camp and is seriously being considered for a stint with the big club despite still being in his teens. Others have been equally impressive and may be given a chance to see if they can stick around.

In addition to our athletes on the field and on the ice, WNY powerlifting athlete Kevin Krauss shares his unforgettable experience at the Gay Games this past August in Cleveland. Kevin, along with his friends Chris and Adam¾known as the Steeldogs¾brought home plenty of hardware.

Lastly, don’t forget to head outdoors and enjoy the fall!

SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 5October-November 2014

General Tim Murray and the Sabres made a big splash on July 1, the opening day for signing free agents, by acquiring a solid group of veteran players to augment the team’s young prospects. Here is a look at these new players and what to expect from them.

The biggest name signed was Rochester native Brian Gionta. The “Rochester Rocket” brings a winner’s pedigree to Buffalo, most recently as the captain of the Montreal Canadians coming off their impressive 2014 playoff run. He won the Stanley Cup with New Jersey in 2003 and set the Devils’ record for most goals in a season with 48 in 2005-2006. Gionta is one of only three Devils players to score over 40 goals in a season.

Gionta is a skilled scoring forward who plays fearlessly. He is the second shortest player in the NHL to former Sabre Nathan Gerbe but has succeeded because of his tenacious

New-look: Sabres under constructionBy George Kuhn

competitiveness and his “go to the net” knack for scoring goals. At age 33, Gionta’s goal-scoring numbers have been in decline (eight, 14 and 18 over the last three seasons after 29 four years ago) but 15 goals this season would be welcome. His combination of skill, attitude and defensive responsibility will provide a tremendous resource for the young Sabres to emulate.

Only July 1 defenseman Josh Gorges was acquired from Montreal for a draft pick. An undrafted free agent, Gorges signed with San Jose and began his NHL career in 2005. While he is not a physical player, Gorges has earned his reputation as a savvy puck-moving defenseman with good offensive abilities. Don Cherry fans should note that Gorges earned praise from Grapes for his strong play during Montreal’s extensive playoff run in 2010 when Cherry stated that he should

be the Canadiens next captain.

The Sabres o rg a n i z a t i o n

took a lot of heat from

the national media last season for their poor

on-ice play and their off-ice drama in the front office. But it was a major public relations triumph when scoring winger Matt Moulson and fourth line forward Cody McCormick chose to return to Buffalo as free agents after they were traded in tandem to Minnesota last season.

Proving that good players don’t always get drafted in the first round, Moulson was drafted in the ninth round, 263rd overall, by Pittsburgh in 2005 yet has been a top goal scorer in the NHL. Since 2010, only 12 players have scored more goals than him. Moulson cited his comfort level in the community and shared values with coach Ted Nolan as the most important reasons for his return. He also sees a bright future ahead and wants to be part of that. While he is not a great skater or physical p l a y e r he is the

real deal as a goal scorer and is a legitimate first line player. A little known fact, his sister Shannon played college hockey in WNY for Niagara University.

With a career high of only eight goals in 2012-13, some may overlook Cody McCormick’s importance for the new look Sabres. But his value goes beyond his veteran presence and good checking ability. Last year’s third and fourth lines couldn’t score goals to save their lives. A few eight goals scorers on these lines in a tight-checking, low-scoring league can turn games around with their contributions.

Andrej Meszaros was signed as a free agent defenseman. In his rookie season of 2005-06, he paired with Zdeno Chara on the Ottawa blueline and posted a plus 39, the third highest plus/minus in the NHL. He won the Barry Ashbee trophy as Philadelphia’s best defenseman in 2012-13. The Flyers traded him to Boston last season where he was frequently a healthy scratch from the lineup. He has posted good offensive

numbers in his career and can be

a solid all-a r o u n d

With an influx of veteran players, the Sabres have built some depth, especially on defense, which affords them the necessary time to patiently develop their young prospects. Here is a look at the top young talent that should make the Sabres a strong playoff team within the next few years.

Zemgus Girgensons just completed his rookie NHL season and wowed fans with his playing style and effort. Coach Ted Nolan held him out as an example to his teammates of how to play the game of hockey. At 6-foot-2 he looks big and plays big. He takes the body and takes control on the ice. He competes hard and his enthusiasm is infectious among fans.

Girgensons will look to grow from his eight goal rookie campaign. His best offensive year was only 24 goals in 49 games in the tier II USHL junior league,

Young Sabres inspire hopeBy George Kuhn

a goal every other game. For comparison purposes, Thomas Vanek scored 65 goals in 73 games over two seasons in that league, almost a goal per game. Based on that comparison, Girgenons’ goal scoring upside may be limited to about 15 goals (half of Vaneks’ usual production) at the NHL level. But it wouldn’t be surprising to see him score 20-25 goals consistently. Right now he is the face of the future for this franchise.

Rasmus Ristolanien is a smooth skating puck rusher

with good size at 6-foot-4 and 219-pounds. He is a well-rounded defenseman who can play physical, is good defensively and can produce offense. He has the skill package to be a dominating player but rarely has played to that level. The challenge to the Sabres coaching staff is to get him there. If they succeed, Ristolanien will anchor the Sabres defense corps for years to come but he may not even start the season in Buffalo considering all the veteran D-men signed over the summer. But make

no mistake, Rasmus is the future No.1 defenseman on the Sabres.

As the second selection in the 2014 amateur draft, Sam Reinhart has the spotlight shining on him. A superbly skilled player, the question is: at age

18 is he ready for the NHL or should he go

back to juniors? The minor leagues are not an option for Canadian major junior aged players because of the NHL’s agreement that requires underage juniors like him to be returned to their junior team if they are not playing in the NHL.

Generally, if a junior player has dominated at his level, he won’t improve by staying at that level. He needs to move up to a better league where he can get accustomed to playing against bigger, stronger players. Just like a high school student going to college after they graduate, the only place for Reinhart to move is forward. To send him back to junior would stunt his development.

It would be be t t e r to keep Reinhart in the NHL and play him in a l i m i t e d role while he adjusts

to NHL level compet i t ion . And he will need some time to make those

adjustments. He has absorbed

some punishing body checks from opponents and teammates alike. He will continue to be targeted by the opposition and needs to learn to play in that environment. His body is slight and he must build up his strength to be able to compete physically against men and he won’t learn how to do that in junior. His skating isn’t great but

he should become a first line forward.

Last season’s rookie of the year, Nathan

MacKinnon, had a rough start but finished

strong and was a dominating player by seasons end. Expect a similar trajectory for Reinhart as long as he does as much as he can with limited minutes and builds upon the additional

playing time he’s given.The most intriguing

prospect is Nikita Zadorov. A unique combination of size, toughness,

shooting and skating ability he stands 6-foot-5

t a l l and tips the scales at 221-pounds at age 19. His wide wingspan can make life miserable for attacking opponents. But his talents are raw and need refinement, specifically how to use his size and physical presence effectively in the NHL He also is prone to lapses in his attention. So he will head back to junior and maybe a stint in Rochester next season. But his potential is huge and an NHL job seems a certainty once he begins to realize his potential. He should become a solid No.2 defenseman.

defender when playing well. He is a good offensive player. While he has the size (6-foot-2 223-pounds) to play physical he frequently does not. He is in Buffalo on a one-year contract that slots him in as a depth player to hold the fort while the young prospects mature. GM Tim Murray is familiar with him from their time together in Ottawa.

Andre Benoit was undrafted by an NHL team and spent eight years toiling

in the minor leagues before becoming a

full time NHLer

with

Ottawa midway through the 2012-13 season. He played for Colorado last season putting up decent offensive numbers with seven goals and 28

points. He will fill a role as a decent puck moving D-man but lacks size to battle large opposing forwards. He is another depth defenseman from Tim Murray’s days in Ottawa.

The hockey community has taken note that with these new players coming to the Sabres, the organization isn’t quite the trainwreck they appeared to be some months ago. While these are solid additions remember that last year’s team had Ryan Miller in goal and still floundered. And the last wave of veteran defensemen brought in to the rescue—Christian Ehrhoff, Robyn Regehr, Henrik Tallinder—were inadequate. So expectations should be low but the Sabres are clearly on the move back to respectability. One more year with an enviable first or second overall draft pick and season tickets will soon

become a family heirloom again.

Photos by Jeff BarnesFrom Left to Right:Josh Gorges, Matt Moulson, and Brian Gionta

Photos below Left to Right: Zemgus Girgensons, Sam Reinhart, by Jeff Barnes. Rasmus Ristolanien by Bill Wippert/Buffalo Sabres

SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 6 October-November 2014

Steeldogs go to Gay Games 9

By Kevin Krauss

About 18 months ago, one of my best friends, Chris Johnson, had an idea to com-pete at the Gay Games in Cleveland, Ohio in Aug. of 2014. I was immediately interested, as I had heard of the event years prior but never had the privilege of going. I thought it would be fun. So we asked our third musketeer; Adam Cummings, if he wanted to compete, and he agreed. So now all the “Steeldogs” were planning on going. Although we normally compete in the WABDL (World Association of Benchers and Deadlifters) and the Games were sanc-tioned by USPA (United States Powerlifting Association) we thought that even if it was a little different it would be a great chance to try another federation. We never realized this would become one of the best expe-riences of our life.

The City of Cleveland did an amazing job putting on such a large event. While we were driving into downtown, there were billboards wel-coming people in all lan-guages and businesses throughout the city all dis-played rainbow flags in sup-port of the Gay Games, showing we were accepted and welcomed without judg-ment. At the hotel we were greeted with big smiles and the staff not only welcomed us but thanked us for com-ing to Cleveland and wished us the best of luck in our competition.

At registration there was a big banner that read “POWERLIFTING” hung

above our booth and we received star treatment with welcome kits, participant medals and answers for all the questions we asked. The next morning we got up early so we could weigh and, walking into the room, we started sizing up every per-son in the joint. We chatted lightly with people making small talk, never knowing that most of these people will become dear friends after this is all said and done. We left the weigh-in feeling good about the competition, knowing we would be able to hold our own. The Powerlifting meet was the next day, so we took it easy, after eating a big meal to fill our starving bellies.

On Aug. 9, the Opening Ceremony for the 2014 Gay Games kicked off at Quicken Loans Arena (home of the Cleveland Cavs basketball team). It offered a star-stud-ded line-up of entertain-ment, featuring singer, danc-er, and radio host Lance Bass, Broadway actress Andrea McArdle and the leg-endary Pointer Sisters. Alex

Newell, best known for his role on Fox’s “Glee,” sang two songs. Olympic champi-on and LGBT advocate Greg Louganis made a special appearance at the Opening Ceremony. Even the President of the United States of America participat-ed with a huge welcome via the jumbotron. We walked in the athlete march where each country was grouped together. The US was divided by state and we walked in representing New York State with other gay athlete from all over the Empire State. It was incredible to see a whole arena packed with audience members screaming and cheering, plus we got to see ourselves on the jumbotron.

We drove out to the meet the next day bright and early, arriving at The Old School Iron Gym in Brook Park, Ohio at 8:30 am. It was an extremely long day with over 60 male and female competi-tors ranging in age from 22 to 71. There was even a grandmother competing with her grandchildren in the audience. There was also Deb Grant, a cancer survi-vor, who was no less inspir-ing. She was celebrating her third anniversary being in remission from breast cancer and all of her friends were there in black and pink T-shirts with “Lifting for Love” written on them. It was an extremely long day, and very hot in the back of the gym, but everybody there had smiles on their faces. Competitors were cheering each other on. This is some-thing you don’t see a lot in

normal powerlifting meets. Usually, people are eyeball-ing each other, staring down, trying to intimidate, but it wasn’t like that here; they encouraged each other. I remember hearing someone at the end of the night say they didn’t win a medal, but they broke their own record twice, and they felt like they still won. That is what it is about, personal victories. I wish more people thought his way, achieving the small goals in life.

We started off with Squatting, and each of us did very well. We all broke state records, Adam and I for New York, and Chris for Washington. Next was bench, and again we did very well, setting new state records. We started deadlift-ing around 8pm, if that tells you how long a day it was. We took state records for that category also. We were extremely happy so far; nine state records for team Steeldogs. Now for the med-als, Adam took one gold; Chris took two gold and Best Lifter Award; and I took a gold and silver. Not Bad, eh? The Games were going on all week and you could go watch any of the sports for free, except figure skating and bodybuilding. It was fun to go watch the other ath-letes compete in their sports.

The closing ceremonies were in an area of the city called the mall. An outdoor arena, this is where the ath-letes walked one final time showing off either gold, sil-ver or bronze medals. There was a big festival going on. It was also the time where the City of Cleveland handed the torch to Paris, the site of Gay Games City 10. After the torch passed to the new city,

they had the Russian athletes come to the stage and talk on how they had the best time of their life competing and being who they are without fear. In Russia, it is illegal to be gay, and they were going back unsure of what would happen to them for coming to the USA to compete.

The Gay Games were con-ceived in 1980 by Dr. Tom Waddell as a “vehicle of change.” For over a quarter century, the Gay Games have built an international legacy of changing cultural, social and political attitudes towards LGBT people across the globe, while at the same time empowering tens of thousands with the trans-forming benefits of sports competition. In 1981, gay athletes were a hidden and

marginalized community within the greater marginal-ized and beleaguered LGBT community. Being gay and being an athlete was an either-or proposition: be a jock or be a queer. All of that changed when the athletes marched into Kezar Stadium in 1982. The event draws participants from all over the world, particularly North America, Western Europe,

and Australia/New Zealand. In addition to 9,000 partici-pants from around the world, 20,000 additional guests, performers, spectators and volunteers were present. The number of participants in the Gay Games is compara-ble to the number of athletes in the Summer Olympics. This year’s games hosted 35 sports and culture events. Sports were as varied as soft-ball, track and field, soccer and swimming to rodeo, bowling, volleyball and row-ing. Culture competitions included choral and band performances.

Previously, the Gay Games were hosted in San Francisco (1982, 1986); Vancouver, British Colombia (1990); New York City (1994); Amsterdam, The Netherlands

(1998); Sydney, Australia (2002); Chicago (2006); and Cologne, Germany (2010).

The Gay Games are not for only gay people, it’s for everyone, no matter who you are. As for the Steeldogs, now we’re training for WABDL Wor ld Championships, in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nov. 18-23. Wish us luck and GO STEELDOGS!!!

Fantasy football: Waiver wire pickupsBy Leonard J. Mytko

Photo Courtesy Kevin Krauss

Steeldogs at Gay Games 9 Closing Ceremonies with medals. Left to right: Chris Johnson, Kevin Krauss, Adam Cummings.

continued on page 10

Photo Courtesy Kevin KraussChris’s final squat attempt to break his own state record.

As injuries start to mount and offenses adapt to change on the fly the waiver wire becomes a hot spot for fanta-sy football owners every-where. They’ll be scurrying and scrambling around for short and long-term fixes at the most critical positions. Some owners will even need to ask themselves if they should go and get some insurance for their starting quarterback, backfield or receiving corps. With that said, let’s hope we at Sports & Leisure Magazine can answer some of those questions by taking a look around at the

best options that may still be available on the waiver wire in mostly deep leagues but shallow ones as well. Good luck!

Branden OliverRB, Chargers

With injuries to Ryan Matthews and Danny Woodhead, the undrafted rookie out of the University at Buffalo now has an even better chance of getting the ball more in San Diego’s offense behind Donald Brown. Although you won’t want to rush and add the 23-year-old just yet, do keep an eye on how the Chargers utilize him going forward. In

four years in Buffalo, he rushed for more than 4,000 yards with 33 touchdowns and added 75 receptions. Let’s pull for him at least, though.

Chandler CatanzaroK, Cardinals

If there was such a thing as a sleeper kicker heading into this year, the rookie out of Clemson could turn out being that one. He’s nine-for-nine on field goals through three games and is right up there in points (30) with Justin Tucker, Steven Hauschka and Adam Vinatieri who were all ranked considerably higher on draft

days.

Allen RobinsonWR, Jaguars

Quietly stepping into a larger role in Jacksonville’s offense over the last couple weeks and leading the team

in receptions (17) and tar-gets (26) is the former Penn State standout of a year ago. And with new starting quar-terback Blake Bortles taking over, he might be a sneaky addition to any fantasy roster out there. Especially since it appears the Jags will be in comeback mode and chuck-ing the ball a lot.

Josh GordonWR, Browns

He’ll take up a roster space and ride the bench for now, but as long as his off-field issues come to a halt he’ll be handy for the playoff push and postseason run that starts in Week 14. So if you’re a savvy owner and happened to find him on your league’s waiver wire, he

could even be used as a valu-able trade chip when interest picks up for him closer to his return. In any event, it’s a win-win for any would-be owner. The main thing is to not let the best receiver in last season’s fantasy sit on the wire and go unclaimed.

Miles AustinWR, Browns

So in Josh Gordon’s absence, this former Cowboy is showing signs of making a little bit of a fantasy come-back in Cleveland. He’s put up a touchdown in two con-secutive games and has 14 catches for 115 yards on the season so far.

If you want to add Larry Donnell to your fantasy team, now is the time to do so.

Photo by Mike Majewski

SPECIAL FALL PULLOUT 2014

Cummings nearing driving milestoneBy Mark Patrick Harzynski Sr.

Each year, Kevin Cummings splits his time between Hamburg and Batavia, or, more accurately, between Buffalo Raceway and Batavia Downs respectively.

Cummings has been racing since 1989 as a driver and in that span has won four driving titles. Three were at Buffalo Raceway, with back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, followed by another in 2008 and the fourth at Batavia Downs in 2009.

Currently, Cummings is having a stellar year and is leading all drivers in all categories as of this writing. With 325 starts at Batavia Downs, Kevin has 78 wins, 64 second place and 43 thirds to his name while

also leading in purse money won with over $347.000.00.

He is also just 115 wins away from 3,000 lifetime career driving wins.

When asked about his success, Cummings pointed to several factors, from having a lot of drives – over 100 each month since the season started – to being put on some of the best mounts by the top trainers such as John Mungillo, Alex Guiliani, Christopher Naedele, Angelo Nappo and Kirk Desmond. He also credits his dad, John Cummings Sr., a longtime driver and trainer, for not only his racing success but getting him started in racing as well. Cummings is still very close with his dad and says that he continues to

inspire him and encourages him to do his very best. In addition to his father, Cummings has strong support team at home from his lovely wife Rhonda and their four beautiful daughters Kristy, Kara,

Some of us are missing summer. No need to fret because fall in our region is stupendous. From viewing of the changing of the leaves to haunted houses to fall festivals, there is something for everyone.

Fall Festivals celebrate the harvest of blessings we enjoy in our community at this time of year. Many festivals offer seasonal foods and baked goods. At this time of year, apples are in season and what a good reason to pick up a homemade apple pie.

Pumpkin patches and farms

Great Pumpkin Farm Fall Festival is in Clarence and runs until October 31. There you will find many family friendly events including hayrides and costume contests. www.greatpumpkinfarm.com

Pumpkiville in Ellicottville features a corn maize, pedal karts, BBQ pit and an ice cream factory. Come and check out their 120 year old cider press where they press this year’s crop of New York State’s apples.

www.pumpkinville.comStokoe Farms Pumpkin

Patch and Harvest Fest in Scottsville runs through October 26. Lots to do there such as a corn maze, zip lining, wagon rides, various sports activities and much more.

www.stokoefarms.com

Fall FestivalsLetchworth Arts & Crafts

Show: Oct 11 – 13. Over 300 arts & crafts vendors, food vendors and live entertainment and located at Highbanks Recreation Area, Letchworth State Park. http://artswyco.org.

40th Annual Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival, Niagara Falls Canada. Friday, Oct. 10th to Monday, Oct. 13th, 9 am to 5 pm, featuring over 130 selected artisans displaying and selling their creative wares such as pottery, paintings, jewelry, lawn ornaments and clothing. You can also enjoy the incredible beauty of this 19th Century hamlet, set amid the majestic Niagara Escarpment and Twenty Valley eco-system. The event is a major fundraiser for the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA). www.niagarafallstourism.com.

Ellicottville Fall Festival (Oct 11 and 12) has grown to be one of our region’s more popular festivals. Ellicottville’s oldest and largest Festival takes place when the foliage of the surrounding hills are ablaze with color. Tens of thousands of festival goers make for a lively weekend of unique foods, an art and craft show, carnival rides, live entertainment and much more.

www.ellicottvilleny.com

HARBORCENTER Fall Festival is October 11-13. This 3-day festival offers plenty of family-friendly fun, with many free events for children, carnival rides and games, a bounce house, hay maze, pumpkin patch, appearances by Sabretooth and Sabres alumni, & live music and much more. The festival ends on Monday with an outdoor Sabres big-screen viewing party for the afternoon game against Anaheim followed by

fireworks.www.canalsidebuffalo.com

Swain Fall Festival: Swain will be hosting their annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18. In addition to their mountain biking, disc golf, and grand opening of their Shop, the resort has added a 32-mile bike race, a 4 & 8-mile foot race, beer tasting, a bounce house for the kids.

www.swain.com

Fall Fest at Peek’n Peak (Chautauqua County): Two weekends! Oct 10-12 and Oct 18-19. Craft Show, farmers market, pumpkin cannon, children’s crafts and activities, entertainment, ski lift rides, petting zoo, snow sports equipment swap, horse-drawn rides, pony rides, and more.

www.pknpk.com/fallfest for details.

Lewiston’s Marble Orchard Ghost Walks showcase Lewiston’s rough and tumble frontier past as well as its gloriously ghost-filled present. They are part of Haunted History Trail of NYS. During the 1 1/2 hour walk, the Marble Orchard Players will take you back in time as they share ghost stories, myths and tales of tragedy, crime, mayhem and murder, the grim and ghastly deeds of Lewiston’s best...and worst. Runs through Oct 25.

www.artcouncil.org

Haunted Houses

Experience your worst fears at our regions haunted houses. Zombies, Vampires and Ghouls might scare you to death!

Nightmare Manor in Rochester is located at Southtown Plaza and runs on select days through October 31. New for this year is The UnDead Zone. Nightmare

Manor is 1/4 mile of terror! www.nightmaremanor.com

House of Horrors and Haunted Catacombs

Hell House and Killer Theater and their six haunted houses will surely scare the pants off of you!www.houseofhorrorsbuffalo.

com.

Haunt Manor (Niagara Falls Canada): One of the largest attractions of its kind in Canada. Located at Campark Resort are three legendary Haunts on one Location on a real Historically Haunted site from 1812. Hollywood special FX, movie quality make-up, masks & costumes combine to make the best Haunt in Canada.www.niagarafallstourism.com

Apple and Fruit Picking

At Blackman Homestead Farm (Niagara County) you can pick apples and pears through November

Celebrate Fall:Family friendly events guideCommunity Sports Report

Kandice and Kaci.When asked what his

all-time most memorable moment was in racing Cummings didn’t hesitate before saying “Winning the 2006 Kane Memorial Pace.”

Named after Robert J.

Kane, the chairman at the time of the sale of Batavia Downs from Genesee Monroe Racing, the Kane Pace is held every year and is always one of the highlights of the racing season. In 2006 Cummings not only won the Pace but set a track record at the time with a mile in 152.1 with Michael Scores. Michael Scores, a homebred with the Compton stable, had over 275 starts and set track records at Batavia Downs as well as Buffalo Raceway and Tioga Downs as well.

When asked about his all-time favorite horse to drive, Cummings smiled and responded “Arm and a Leg.” Trained by Cummings’ father, Arm and a Leg was a multiple Open Pace winner at both Batavia Downs and Buffalo Raceway with career

money earnings of over $70, 000.

Although it is mathematically possible for Cummings to get the 115 wins he needs to eclipse 3,000 lifetime driving wins before Batavia ends its season Dec. 6 it’s more likely we’ll see him roll over 3,000 when Buffalo Raceway starts in 2015.

Regardless of when it occurs, it’s clear that there is a lot of good racing in store for Kevin Cummings as well as all the fans of Western New York who will get to watch him on his trek to 3,000 and beyond.

Kevin Cummings at Batavia Downs. Photo Mark Harzynski Sr.

2. In addition to offering more than fifteen varieties of apples to pick, they have fresh pressed cider, pumpkins, squash, grape juice, specialty fruit butters, applesauce, and other locally produced agricultural products. Barnyard animals and a straw climbing area are also available for children to enjoy. www.blackmanhomesteadfarm.com

Smith’s Orchard Cider Mill (Pendleton): on weekends, pick some apples, look at the Cider Mill and take home some of the best Fresh Pressed cider.

www.smithsorchard.com

Becker Farms in Gasport offers many types of fruits and veggies. Established in 1894 – they must be doing something right! They have a bakery with pies, jam, cakes, fudge and many more tempting treats!

www.beckerfarms.com

WWW.HUGESPORTZ.COM | SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE | FALL 2014

Fall in love with the View in the Enchanted Mountains, Cattaraugus County New YorkCommunity Sports Report

Autumn is here. Probably the most treasured aspect of fall is the bright, vibrant colors that paint the hillsides. You may not know it, but Cattaraugus County has some of the most beautiful places to take in the colors as you enjoy the last warm days before the long winter. To help you on your quest for fall peeping, here are the must see Fall Foliage Destinations!

View the colors by car as you drive the country highways and byways through the Old Order Amish community on New

York’s Amish Trail. You will come upon Amish buggies that go a comfortable speed of 10 mph; don’t be in a hurry, slow down and appreciate the golden days of the year. Relax in the lazy,

hazy days of autumn as you make stops to the different Amish owned shops. Fill up on the delicious baked goods, buy a handmade quilt and stock up on wonderful gifts all before going home and gearing up for the upcoming colder season. Not sure where to go? Call 1-800-331-0543 or visit AmishTrail.com.

Rock City Park will lead you on hiking trails through gigantic rock formations left over from the glacial period and over the falling leaves of the trees surrounding these rocks. Experience the

view from the tree tops as you make your way to the trail via a route on the top of one of those large rocks. Relax on the double swing, pose for photos under the arbor or hold hands with Big

Foot. View the neat extras in the gift shop, as you are educated on different types of rocks and how they come into fruition. Rock

enthusiasts will have the chance to view, purchase and learn about rare and common rocks from around the world at the annual Rock City Park Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show during Columbus Day Weekend.

Search through the crisp fall leaves at Griffis Sculpture Park to find sculptures popping up all over the place. Explore the Mill Valley Site, walking through the woods to then come upon a field full of steel sculptures seemingly placed perfectly along the edge of the forest, the pond and in the field. For a more

grand view, drive up to the second portion of the park, the Rohr Hill Site, to see the giant sculptures stand as tall as the trees or hunt for the

snake in the lower portion of the woods there. Take a break next to, or in, one of the sculptures that are warmed by the autumn sun.

For a spectacular view while you eat, head over to Bear Mountain in Salamanca. Enjoy the nice weather while it’s still here with some delicious food outside on the beautiful Deck, also known as “The Ledge.” Once you’re there you will see why it rightfully owns that nickname. Just outside of Allegany State Park, enjoy a bite to eat or some of the live entertainment at nighttime.

Just driving along Route 86 to get to Bear Mountain (you will see the huge sign on the hillside) will offer up lovely viewing experiences. There is a reason the area is called the Enchanted Mountains. You are sure to know why after traveling this route with forever views of trees and a feeling that can’t be beat.

And last but not least is Allegany State Park. Fall is one of the most popular times at the Park and the campsites are buzzing with families looking to hike, swim, bike and enjoy a warm campfire. If you plan on camping, plan ahead as families have made this an annual tradition. Or come for the day to get some fall

fishing in, take the horse out for the last time or climb Thunder Rocks and the Stone Tower. The sights at this Historic NYS Park can be breathtaking anytime, but they are especially awesome in full color. The friendliness of the staff and the wildlife educational opportunities will make your stay even more pleasurable.

So fall whole-heartedly into autumn in the Enchanted Mountains of Western New York. To view more information on any of these fall foliage destinations, visit EnchantedMountains.com. For a FREE Activities Guide call 1-800-331-0543.

You can use Your Phone or GPs Device to Geocache alonG nY's amish trail.

Have you GeocacHed?

1-800-331-0543

Get starteD at amishtrail.com/Geotrail

Naturally Yours To Enjoy!

All Photos Courtesy Cattaraugus County Dept. of Economic Development

Allegany State Park.

The red, orange, yellow, and green colored trees willtake your breath away!

Hold BigFoot’s hand at Rock City Park.

NCCC Year in Review

SPECIAL SECTION NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

NCCC THUNDERWOLVESwww.niagaracc.suny.edu

Follow the NCCCThunderwolves Follow the NCThunderwolves NCCCThunderwolves on YouTube

Athletic Director, Bob McKeown

women’s volleyball day date opponent time

No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht High School Hometown

Tues September 9 At JAMESTOWN CC 6:00 PM Sat September 13 At MOHAWK VALLEY CC POD 9:00 AM vs. HERKIMER CC vs. MOHAWK VALLEY CC vs. FULTON-MONTGOMERY CC Sat September 20 At JAMESTOWN CC POD 9:00 AM vs. HUDSON VALLEY CC vs. COLUMBIA-GREENE CC vs. SUNY ADIRONDACK CC Tues September 23 MERCYHURST NORTH EAST 6:00 PM Sat September 27 NIAGARA CC POD 9:00 AM vs. CORNING CC vs. FINGER LAKES CC vs. MONROE CC Tues September 30 At MONROE CC 6:00 PM Sat October 4 At JAMESTOWN CC POD 9:00 AM vs. TOMPKINS-CORTLAND CC vs. BROOME CC vs. SUNY DELHI CC Thurs October 9 ERIE CC 6:00 PM Tues October 14 GENESEE CC 6:00 PM Sat October 18 At JEFFERSON CC POD 9:00 AM vs. JEFFERSON CC vs. ONONDAGA CC vs. CAYUGA CC Sat October 25 WNYAC TOURNAMENT (AT MERCYHURST NE) 9:00AM Sat - Sun November 1-2 REG. III DIV. III TOURNAMENT (AT NCCC) 9:00 AM Fri - Sun November 14-15 At NJCAA DIV. III TOURNAMENT (AT ROCHESTER, MINN.) TBA

HEAD COACH: JOE DAIGLER • ASSISTANT COACH: LINDSAY MATIKOSH

November 6, 2014

Fall Open House

facebook.com/AdmissionsNCCCtwitter.com/NCCC_Admissions

123456781012131415

Jordan GlosserMorgan BossAnniella CswaykusAllie BubarAnna TuttleLeanne WillsMiranda NewmanMaren MilesHaley DumbletonSydney RodgersNicole CyrKassie BennettAlyssa Schlosser

OHSSOH/LMBOH/LOHRS/MBOHOHLMBOH/L

So.Fr.So.Fr.So.Fr.Fr.So.So.Fr.So.Fr.Fr.

5-85-54-115-65-105-45-85-115-75-75-26-05-5

WilsonLewiston-PorterCheektowagaWilsonWilsonNiagara-Wheat� eldWilsonPenn YanWarsawSt. Mary’s (Lancaster)StarpointGrand IslandWilson

Wilson, NYLewiston, NYCheektowaga, NYWilson, NYWilson, NYNiagara Falls, NYWilson, NYPenn Yan, NYWarsaw, NYLancaster, NYLockport, NYGrand Island, NYWilson, NY

LEADING THE PACK: Members of the athletic department from Niagara County Community College are ready for the 2014-15 season! Pictured, back row, from left: Nate Beutel, Bob McKeown, Henry Luczak, Matt Oleski, John Grzymala, Matt Clingersmith, Steve Arcadipane, Dan Maigret, Bill Beilein, Todd Faddoul and Eric Knuutila. Front row, from left: Amanda Pucci, Katrina White, Eric Freischlag, Jeff Ziemecki, Carl Clark, Kathleen DiPasquale, Jill Faddoul and Sarah Kirchberger

� e Niagara County Community College athletics program continued to prove it belongs among the elite in Region III with a stellar 2013-14 campaign. � e � under-wolves’ wrestling program brought home its 19th regional title, while several other programs had tremendous success.

“I’m extremely proud of the work that our student-athletes and sta� put in on the � eld of play and in the classroom,” athletics director Bob McKeown said. “I believe all of our programs are on the rise and I can’t wait to see what the 2014-15 season has in store for NCCC athletics.”

Here are the highlights of the 2013-14 athletics year:

� e wrestling squad’s championship-run was spearheaded by six Region III individual champions - Eric Velez, Marcus Popp, Kevin Strong, Tyler Bruce, Max Antone and El-Shaddai Gilmore-VanHosen. Strong was also named Region III Most Outstanding Wrestler, while coach Keith Maute was chosen as Region III Coach of the Year. Other National Tournament quali� ers for the T-Wolves included Cody Carbery, Chris Nevinger, Shane Currey and Cedrick Stephens.

� e women’s basketball program, under the direction of Region III Coach of the Year Nate Beutel, won a school-record 25 games, hosted the Region III Tournament for the � rst time and was ranked as high

also a � rst-team All-Region choice, while Jesse DeWaters (second team) and Alba Perez (third team) also were honored. Ripson and DeWaters were also named Region III Athlete of the Week twice.

� e men’s basketball team attained a top-10 ranking in the National Poll on its way to a 23-win season under coach Bill Beilein. Eli Jones was a � rst team All-Region pick and also was named Region III Athlete of the Week. EJ Sandoval was named to the second team, while both Jordan Street and Gjaimeir Stanford were third-team choices.

Coach Joe Daigler’s women’s volleyball team had another strong year, notching 23 wins behind the e� orts of NCCC Presi-dent’s Cup winner Delaney Laper. Laper, who broke several school records, was a � rst-team All-Region and All-Conference select ion. She was a member of the Region III All-Tournament team and

Region III All-Tournament team.

Women’s soccer took a big step forward, winning � ve games for � rst-year coach Kathleen DiPasquale. Kristi DeLabio was a second team All-Region and � rst team All-Conference performer for the TWolves. Samantha Costanzo also made � rst team All-Conference, while Paula Pinkert and Katie Heeks were named to the second team.

Coach Carl Clark’s men’s soccer team is looking to rebound a� er an injury-plagued season, which included wins over Fulton-Montgomery and rival Erie.

� e highly-successful baseball program led by coach Matt Clingersmith won 32 games on its way to another Region III Final Four berth. Chris Beer had a season for the ages, picking up the following honors: WNYAC Senior Male Athlete of the Year, All-American,

Region III Athlete of the Week. Nicholl Martin was a third team All-Re-gion and All-Conference pick, while also being named Region III Athlete of the Week. Jordan Glosser was second team All-Region and � rst team All-Conference, Haley Dumbleton picked up third team All-Conference honors and Charlene Cinelli was a part of the

as No. 18 in the National Poll. Jaclyn Welch be-came just the second NCCC player to earn All-American honors. Welch was also the Region III Player of the Year, a first-team All-Region selection and a two-time Region III Athlete of the Week. Kristine Ripson, who earned a scholar-ship to Division II Post (Conn.) University, was

Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year, Region III Player of the Year and � rst-team All-Region. Beer will attend Division I Arkansas-Pine Blu� along with teammate Russ McGibbon. Pat Quinn, the WNYAC’s Senior Male Academic Athlete of the Year, was also a member of the first team All-Region squad. Joe DeLuca was a Region III All-Tournament choice.

� e women’s lacrosse program won a school-record four games on the strength of the program’s top two all-time leading scorers - April Maziarz and Lexi Zugay. Maziarz was NCCC’s � rst-ever � rst team All-Region choice with both being named � rst team All-Conference. Brianna Becker and Ripson were second team All-Conference picks.

� e men’s lacrosse team under the direction of coach Todd Faddoul had four � rst team All-Conference players in Aric Freischlag, Ian Tomczak, Nick Perilli and Joe Healy. Max Antone, Nick Rossi and Pat Gallagher were second-team players.

Coach Erin Stillman’s so� ball team won only twice, but did have � ve second team All-Conference selections: Olivia Hermann, Marlee Hilliard, Jordan Beutel, Cinelli and Dumbleton.

Will Lawton picked up All-Region honors and quali� ed for the National Tournament as a member of coach Matt Oleski’s golf team.

SPECIAL SECTIONNIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

READY, SET, KILL: The NCCC women’s volleyball team is loaded with talent and ready to make a run at a regional title this fall. Team members include, from left: Leanne Wills, Morgan Boss, Anna Tuttle, Maren Miles, Kassie Bennett, Haley Dumbleton, Ella Cswaykus, Jordan Glosser, Sydney Rodgers, Miranda Newman, Allie Bubar, Alyssa Schlosser and Nicole Cyr.

Men’s Basketball: Bill Beilein bbeilein@niagaracc.suny.edu

Women’s Basketball:Nate Beutel nbeutel@niagaracc.suny.edu

Co-Ed Golf :Matt Oleski moleski@niagaracc.suny.edu

Men’s Lacrosse:Todd Faddoul tfaddoul@niagaracc.suny.edu

Women’s Lacrosse:Sarah Kirchberger skirchberger@niagaracc.suny.edu

Men’s Soccer:Carl Clark cclark@niagaracc.suny.edu

Women’s Soccer:Kathleen DiPasquale kdipasquale@niagaracc.suny.edu

Softball:Nate Beutel nbeutel@niagaracc.suny.edu

Women’s Volleyball:Joe Daigler jdaigler@niagaracc.suny.edu

Wrestling: Keith Maute kmaute@niagaracc.suny.edu

For more information Please contact the Athletic Office at 716-614-2520

Save the Date

Monday, June 29, 2015

WWW.NIAGARACC.SUNY.EDU • NIAGARA COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE • THE SMART PLACE TO START

N I A G A R A C O U N T Y C O M M U N I T Y C O L L E G E AT H L E T I C S • 2 0 1 4 - 1 5 S P O R T S I N S I D E R

men’s soccer day date opponent time

NCCC ATHLETICS STAFF DIRECTORY

day date opponent time day date opponent time

No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht High School Hometown No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht High School Hometown No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht High School Hometown No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht High School Hometown No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht High School Hometown

Sat September 6 BROOME CC 1:00 PM Sun September 7 SUNY DELHI 12:00PM Wed September 10 TOMPKINS-CORTLAND CC 4:00 PM Sat September 13 At CAYUGA CC 3:00 PM Sat September 20 At GENESEE CC 3:00 PM Wed September 24 At ERIE CC 5:00 PM Wed October 1 ERIE CC 4:00 PM Sat October 4 At ONONDAGA CC 3:00 PM Wed October 8 FINGER LAKES CC 4:00 PM Sat October 11 JAMESTOWN CC 1:00 PM Wed October 15 CORNING CC 4:00 PM Sat October 18 At JEFFERSON CC 3:00 PM Sun October 19 At FULTON-MONTGOMERY CC 3:00 PM Wed October 22 MONROE CC 4:00 PM Sat October 25 Reg. III Div. III 1st Round (at higher seed) TBA Tues October 28 Reg. III Div. III Quarter� nals (at higher seed) TBA Sat - Sun November 1-2 Reg. III Div. III Final Four (at Herkimer CC) TBA Thurs - Sun November 6-9 NJCAA Div. III Tournament (at TC3) TBA

Sat September 6 BROOME CC 1:00 PM Sun September 7 SUNY DELHI 12:00PM Wed September 10 TOMPKINS-CORTLAND CC 4:00 PM Sat September 13 At CAYUGA CC 1:00 PM Sat September 20 At GENESEE CC 1:00 PM Wed September 24 At ERIE CC 3:00 PM Sat September 27 JAMESTOWN-OLEAN CC 1:00 PM Wed October 1 ERIE CC 4:00 PM Sat October 4 At Onondaga CC 1:00 PM Wed October 8 FINGER LAKES CC 4:00 PM Sat October 11 JAMESTOWN CC 1:00 PM Wed October 15 CORNING CC 4:00 PM Sat October 18 At JEFFERSON CC 1:00 PM Sun October 19 At Fulton-Montgomery CC 1:00 PM Sat October 25 Reg. III Div. III 1st Round (at higher seed) TBA Tues October 28 Reg. III Div. III Quarter� nals (at higher seed) TBA Sat - Sun November 1-2 Reg. III Div. III Final Four (at TC3) TBA Thurs - Sun November 6-9 NJCAA Div. III Tournament (at Ocean County CC) TBA

women’s soccer

HEAD COACH: KATHLEEN DIPASQUALE • ASSISTANT COACH: ALEXA WISELHEAD COACH: CARL CLARK • ASSISTANT COACH: MATTHEW ALBRECHT • STEVE ARCADIPANE • TED LESH

00/13 1/18256789/27111920

Tabatha HollenbeckRosie SpiraTara BeachAmy JohnstonSarah SchottmillerGabrielle RoseVictoria ZambutoCourtney SloweChristina MaynardTaylor JamesStephanie Riegle

F/GKM/GKM/FMD/MD/MMD/GKDFD

So.Fr.Fr.Fr.So.Fr.So.So.So.So.So.

5-65-75-35-55-25-55-45-35-65-55-2

LockportLewiston-PorterNiagara-Wheat� eldWilliamsville EastNorth TonawandaLockportGreece ArcadiaLeRoyRoyalton-HartlandLewiston-PorterRoyalton-Hartland

Lockport, NYLewiston, NYNiagara Falls, NYWilliamsville, NYNorth Tonawanda, NYLockport, NYGreece, NYLeRoy, NYGasport, NYLewiston, NYGasport, NY

001345678911121415161718192122232534

Ryan HolovicsAustin MattesonJe� CalkinsSean KearnsJustin ViengmayChristian MahoeGrayson DolataJordan CalkinsPaul BurdukovJon PooleRuss QuarentelloLloyd MillsAndrew HendrixShaun LaperBrandon GruesoVictor BurdukovMaxwell MenyahTrevor McCabeRobert FrazierJaylen BoswellAyodedeji AdebayoBobby McKeown

GKGKF/MMMMMDC/MF/MMFMMDCMFDDCMFGK

Fr.So.So.Fr.Fr.Fr.Fr.So.Fr.So.So.Fr.Fr.Fr.Fr.Fr.So.Fr.Fr.Fr.Fr.Fr.

6-06-06-15-95-65-95-116-26-46-05-105-115-85-105-96-35-95-96-06-05-95-11

North TonawandaNorth TonawandaNiagara-Wheat� eldLockportMaryvaleNorth TonawandaNorth TonawandaNiagara-Wheat� eldStarpointAlbionLewiston-PorterShoemakerPaul MooreNorth TonawandaTuscaroraStarpointNiagara FallsNorth TonawandaRoyalton-HartlandWheatland-ChiliSouth ParkStarpoint

North Tonawanda, NYNorth Tonawanda, NYSanborn, NYLockport, NYCheektowaga, NYNorth Tonawanda, NYNorth Tonawanda, NYSanborn, NYNorth Tonawanda, NYAlbion, NYLewiston, NYKilleen, TXCentral Square, NYNorth Tonawanda, NYLeesburg, VANorth Tonawanda, NYTema, GhanaNorth Tonawanda, NYGasport, NYScottsville, NYIle-oluji, NigeriaLockport, NY

716-946-0689

716-807-7216

716-818-9482

716-609-2555

716-359-5208

716-308-6218

716-614-6496

716-807-7216

716-870-3054

716-614-6772

Athletic Director: Bob McKeown mckeown@niagaracc.suny.edu

Athletic Recruitment Coordinator:Matt Clingersmith mclingersmith@niagaracc.suny.edu

Athletic Secretary:Katrina White white@niagaracc.suny.edu

Athletic Trainer:Henry Luczak hluczak@niagaracc.suny.edu

Compliance/Eligibility Coordinator:Amanda Pucci apucci@niagaracc.suny.edu

Equipment/Uniforms:Bill Beilein bbeilein@niagaracc.suny.edu

Events/Scheduling Coordinator:Jill Faddoul jmfaddoul@niagaracc.suny.edu

Intramurals & Recreation Supervisor:Matt Oleski moleski@niagaracc.suny.edu

Sports Information Director:Nate Beutel nbeutel@niagaracc.suny.edu

Baseball: Matt Clingersmith mclingersmith@niagaracc.suny.edu

716-614-6271

716-940-3108

716-614-2520

716-614-6242

716-614-6259

716-946-0689

716-614-6498

716-818-9482

716-807-7216

716-940-3108

No. Name Pos. Yr. Ht High School Hometown

HAVIN’ A BALL: The NCCC women’s soccer team is ready to make a run toward a regional playo� berth this fall. Team members include, from left, Sarah Schottmiller, Amy Johnston, Victoria Zambuto, Gabrielle Rose, assistant coach Alexa Wisel, Stephanie Riegle, Rosie Spira, Christina Maynard, head coach Kathleen DiPasquale, Taylor James, Courtney Slowe, Tabatha Hollenbeck and Tara Beach.

KICKIN’ IT: The NCCC men’s soccer team hopes to compete for a regional playo� berth this fall. Team members include, from left: assistant coach Steve Arcadipane, Christian Mahoe, Brandon Grueso, Ayodedeji Adebayo, Jon Poole, Robert Frazier, Victor Burdukov, Austin Matteson, Bobby McKeown, Grayson Dolata, Lloyd Mills, Maxwell Menyah, Sean Kerans, Andrew Hendrix, Justin Viengmay and head coach Carl Clark.

WWW.HUGESPORTZ.COM | SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE | FALL 2014

Fall golf in WNY… Here is why you should be playingBy Rick Zurak, Golf Editor

So you have put the clubs away for the season and pulled out the bowling ball. Shame on you. What is it about fall golf that you don’t like? Is it the lower green fees? Is it the cooler, much more comfortable temperatures? It is the nicer conditioned golf courses? Maybe it’s the less crowded courses and easier tee times to be had. All of that just sounds awful doesn’t it? Well for the avid golfer, Fall is the best season for all those reasons.

And did I mention the Fall foliage that’s to be seen at so many of the tree-lined golf courses. Oh man, you have not seen a more beautiful golf course when the leaves have changed colors than Bristol Harbour Resort. With Canandaigua Lake as a backdrop, Bristol Harbour’s scenery is second to none. Of course the folks at Byrncliff Resort in Varysburg might have an argument. And then there’s Holiday Valley Resort and Peek N Peak Resort. The ski hills have a little advantage with mountainsides covered in bright red, yellow and orange color schemes that seem to go on forever.

It is true that less people play golf in the Fall than in the summer in Western New York. If you are one of those golfers that calls it a season come Labor Day, this article is here to get you to pick up your clubs just one more time. Get yourself to that one course that you had planned to play this year but just never found the time.

Hey, you only live once and I want you to live your golf life to its fullest. You can thank me later. In fact, chances are that if you get out one more

time, you will get out two, three or maybe even four more times. You will find Fall golf to be better than you ever thought.

At the time of writing these words of encouragement, WNY was enjoying one of the greatest weeks of weather of the entire year. Temps in the low to mid 70s and plenty of sunshine with very little humidity or wind. That’s what we call San Diego weather. You can’t beat it. Now picture yourself at Ravenwood Golf Course in Victor, a place that has hosted two New York State Amateurs and a number of USGA qualifiers. You may even want to move back a tee box or so to make it more challenging. Your score isn’t the important thing here, it’s

being at one the best courses in WNY on a beautiful Fall day. Besides, you may play better than you think with the great conditions

and beautiful rolling hills. Challenge yourself, it can be very, very fun.

If it’s a quick nine you prefer, there’s Gothic Hill in Lockport (try to make it on a Friday and enjoy the great fish fry there), Spruce Ridge in Arcade where the pine trees will still be “ever” green and so will the very green lush fairways. How about 9 at night? The Newfane Pro Am will have the lights on for you. The mosquitoes don’t like the cooler evenings, that’s a plus, but you will enjoy an evening at Newfane with some very challenging par 3 holes.

They call Canada the “great white north”, but not quite yet my friends. Fort Erie Golf Club is known

as an “executive course” because it is mostly par three’s mixed in with a few par fours and any executive could play it on his or her lunch hour. Well, it may take you a big longer to play their 18 holes, but with very few tourists around, it will be all that more enjoyable. Not far away is Beechwood Golf & Country Club. Owner Brian Antonsen is a diehard Notre Dame fan and the Irish are good this Fall. Go out and play his well groomed golf course and then find him in his extremely nice bar area. Talk Notre Dame football and he’s sure to buy you a beer.

Last but not least, let’s talk dollars and sense. That’s right sense, because it makes all the sense in the world to play Fall golf around here for the following cents, and/or dollars, it costs to play. The Links at Ivy Ridge, which I always refer to as the best deal around because it’s a great golf course and typically only $35 after 2:30 during the season. Well now it’s only $30 seven days a week after 1pm and the same goes for weekdays

between 7-9am. Jim Fiske, Don Nicholas and company will treat you like gold regardless or what time you play. Speaking of great guys, Mike Roeder at Ravenwood has his greens fees as high as $75 in the Summer, but as low as $29 for 18 holes in the Fall. Chris Pompa does a great job at Batavia Country Club and he gets crazy during the Fall with 18 holes and cart for a low, low $17 ! Now that’s worth the drive to Batavia. Got an RV, head over to Hickory Ridge Golf and RV Park in Holley and play 18 for $15! These are just a few samples of the great golf at

phenomenal Fall rates under phenomenal Fall conditions. If I haven’t encouraged you to get out before the snow flies, I’m sorry. But it really doesn’t get any better than right here, right now. Enjoy!

Rick Zurak is the producer/host of the Western New York Golf Report TV Show Tuesdays at 6:30 on Time Warner Ch. 20 in the Buffalo area. He is also Director of the NYS Junior Golf Tour, and owner of Rick Zurak’s Golf Warehouse, Transit and Genesee in Lancaster. Contact Rick at zurakgolf@roadrunner.com

Photo Courtesy ByrncliffByrncliff Resort and Conference Center in Varysburg is open year round. Play and stay and enjoy the view!

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SPECIAL FALL PULLOUT 2014

SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 7October-November 2014

Fantasy baseballBy Mike Fox

Projecting which baseball prospects will have immediate success in the majors can be more difficult for fantasy owners than finding an NFL player not in the news recently. For every Mike Trout or Jose Fernandez that quickly attains stardom in the majors, there is a host of players like Xander Bogaerts who remind us that there is a vast difference between the minors and The Show. But let’s face it; drafting a stud rookie can be almost as gratifying as a fantasy title. If you’re hoping to catch the next Trout, the following players should already be on your radar screen. Some prospects make us wait a while before their power fully develops, but all

indications are that won’t be a problem for Texas slugger Joey Gallo. His mammoth homer in the 2014 Futures Game earned him MVP honors, but the best is yet to come. The 20-year-old third baseman smacked 42 homers while splitting the season between A+ and AA levels, and has produced a mouth-watering 104 homers in his 1,056 career minor league at-bats. Like most power hitters, his strikeout levels are high, and his career batting average is only .263, so the Rangers might feel he requires more seasoning. However, he’s also carrying a career .373 OBP, and the power is unmistakable, so make sure he’s on your roster when the call-up comes.

John Axford: From Ontario to Canisius to the Major LeaguesBy Jack Godzuk

The journey for John Axford to the Major Leagues started in Ontario, Canada, continued through Notre Dame, and then came back to WNY when he enrolled at Canisius College in Buffalo.

The right-handed relief pitcher made it to the majors in 2009 and has been there ever since. He debuted with Milwaukee and eventually supplanted soon-to-be Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman as their closer. John’s 46 saves led the NL in 2011; that and his 1.95 ERA earned him the NL Rolaids Relief Award.

His home address has

The Chicago Cubs opted to leave third baseman Kris Bryant in the minors all year, but that decision certainly wasn’t based on his on-field performance. All he did was lead the minors with 43 home runs, post a slash line of .325/.438/.661, and claim virtually every significant Player of the Year award. The Cubs will control Bryant’s rights for an extra year if they wait until mid-April to call him up, but once that hurdle is cleared, he’ll join a growing cast of talented young players being assembled in the Windy City.

The Minnesota Twins have not finished higher than fourth in the AL Central Division since 2010. Help is on the way, but Twinkies fans will have to be patient. Miguel Sano appeared to be on the fast-track to the majors before incurring an injury during 2014 spring training that required Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old Dominican has

Former UB star Oliver makes NFL debut for San Diego ChargersBy Charles Roberts

The Buffalo-branded duffle bag in Branden Oliver’s lock-er only seemed fitting.

It was Oliver, after all, who dashed for more than 4,000 yards from 2009-2013 on his way to becoming the University at Buffalo’s all-time leading rusher. With his collegiate days now in the rearview, he took his first official steps as a professional on Sept. 21, when he made his NFL debut, where else, than in Western New York.

already begun his rehab, but it would be unfair to expect an immediate return to his 2013 form when he posted a .280-35-103 line for AA New Britain. Twins outfield prospect Byron Buxton’s season

was almost as rocky. The consensus No.1 prospect entering 2014 suffered a wrist injury early in the season, and ended the season early after sustaining a concussion. In between, he was only a shadow of the player that dominated during his first year of A-level ball in 2013, when he hit .325 and stole 55 bases as a 19-year-old. His concussion symptoms are gone, and he’s expected to participate in the Arizona Fall League, so we’ll soon have some idea what to expect going forward. The New York Mets 2015 pitching staff will already boast young guns Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Zack Wheeler, with Noah Syndergaard to join them soon. The 22-year-old fireballer looks like the complete package, boasting size (6-foot-6, 240-pounds), power, control and an ability to keep the ball in the park. The Mets have shown they’re not shy about promoting pitchers when

they are deemed ready, so Syndergaard should make his major-league debut in 2015 if he maintains his current pace of development. Syndergaard is only one of many young pitchers who have a chance to be special in the majors. Washington’s Lucas Giolito dominated in A-ball in 2014, but the Nationals have no immediate need for additional help in the rotation. They’re also traditionally cautious with young pitchers, so his debut likely won’t come until 2016. Dylan Bundy’s season was spent slowly recovering from 2013 Tommy John surgery, but he should soon be a fixture in the Baltimore rotation. Arizona’s Archie Bradley struggled a bit after an early promotion to AAA, but he’s big and talented. The Diamondbacks also have high hopes for University of Nevada alumnus Braden Shipley, whose minor league stats thus far belie his true ability. Watch for him in 2016.

Oliver, a rookie with the San Diego Chargers, picked up 11 yards on three carries and also saw action on the kick-return team in a Week 3 meeting with the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

“It was awesome, man,” Oliver said of the experience. “I just want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to come back here and play ball – the same place I was for the last five years. I had a lot of

friends and family here [today], but even the [Bills] fans were cool because they know me.”

It was a big weekend for Oliver, who on Sept. 20 watched several of his for-mer University at Buffalo teammates pound Norfolk State, 36-7.

“I got to see those guys play yesterday, and that was great,” Oliver said of his alma mater. “It was awesome that we both won, too.”

Oliver had been inactive for the first two weeks of the NFL season, but when start-ing running back Ryan Matthews was injured, the Chargers looked to the rook-ie for added depth at the position. What’s more, Oliver made an in-game jump on the depth chart when Matthews’ backup, Danny Woodhead, also went down with an injury on the Chargers’ first possession in Buffalo.

“I told Danny that I am praying for him,” Oliver said. “You never want to see a teammate – or anyone – go down. But I’m always ready when my number is called.”

Chargers quarterback

Philip Rivers, a five-time Pro Bowler, has been on record praising Oliver throughout training camp. He was no different after Oliver’s first regular-season appearance.

“Branden stepped up – who I know you local guys know about him – he got his feet wet today with some carries and had a couple good runs,” Rivers said. “Guys are going to have to step up and we have to stay balanced.”

With Woodhead ruled out for the season and Matthews sidelined for at least a month, Oliver, who’s generously list-ed at 5-foot-8 and a compact 207-pounds, will likely see his number called through-

out the season. If he can pick up where he left off at the University at Buffalo, the Chargers shouldn’t miss a beat.

changed a few times in the last two years. The Brewers traded Axford to St. Louis late last year. He signed with Cleveland to start 2014, but was waived in August and signed with the Pirates, who clinched a playoff spot at press time. He’s pitched in 341 career games (all in relief) with 116 saves, along with 12 post-season games and three saves.

The intervention of Canisius baseball coach Mike McCrae came at a crit-ical juncture in Axford’s development, as he was recovering from a shoulder

injury. “Mike first tried to recruit

me in high school when he was coaching at the University of Maine... He later went to Niagara, then Canisius,” Axford explained regarding his former coach. “When I finished my four years at ND, I needed a school to play at.”

Although Axford hurt his shoulder while pitching for the Irish, and missed pretty much all of his last two years, he had the foresight to make the most of the class-room experience at Notre Dame. He earned his

Bachelor’s in Film and Television, even interning at a TV station in South Bend. While later pitching in a summer league in Brantford, Ontario, McCrae noted his improvement and sold John on going to Canisius by showing him some academic programs he could enroll in while finishing his baseball eligibility. Axford signed to play for the Griffins in 2006. McCrae is still the head coach at Canisius, having won the MAAC regular sea-son title last year.

“School is important to me. I had my B.A; when he saw me playing in Brantford, he showed me a couple of programs Canisius offered. Luckily it worked out for me” Axford noted, adding that living only 90 minutes away in Port Dover, Ontario, helped.

Axford earned his Master’s in Sports Administration at Canisius, reasoning “if I couldn’t fulfill my goal of playing pro baseball, I could fulfill my dreams on the front office side...but now that I’ve played in the majors, I can say that film is my true love and passion.”

Photo Courtesy MLB.comXander Bogaerts’ 2014 season served as a reminder that projecting prospects is not an exact science.

Photo by Jeff BarnesFormer UB star Branden Oliver makes his NFL debut against the Bills.

Photo by Classy Wolf Media

John Axford pitching for the Pirates at PNC Park against the Cubs.

Axford already has a foot in the door of the film indus-try through his work with the Milwaukee Film Festival. “I’ve been a sponsor of the fest; for last few years they’ve had ‘John Axford Presents.’ This year, it’ll be ‘Dr. Strangelove’, as it’s the film’s 50th Anniversary.”

Having grown up in Ontario, of course the Axford needed to address the stereo-typical question of whether he had any aspirations of playing hockey. “I wanted to be a hockey player instead of baseball, but I ended up being better at baseball,” Axford explained, noting that Rob Blake, recently inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, was one of his favorites.

SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 8 October-November 2014

Shooting stars for the fall seasonBy Dave Ricci

The 2014-15 scholastic sports season is in gear and a wide range of sports are dominating the high school landscape. From football and soccer to tennis, field hock-ey, volleyball, swimming, golf and cross country there truly is something for every-one.

Here is Sports & Leisure Magazine’s fall list of players to watch. Some you may know, others might ring unfamiliar, but they all have a story to tell.

Terrell Ford, football, Kenmore West.

This gifted junior hasn’t even come close to reaching his full potential. Ford opened the season with back-to-back games with 300 all-purpose yards. He has an amazing football I.Q., knows the games very well and was the first WNYer to be selected to take part in the U.S. All-American under-classman combine that was held in Texas over New Year’s. Unfortunately, bad weather grounded Ford’s plane and he was unable to attend. He’s already drawn

serious recruiting offers from several D-I programs.

Hope Balling, soccer, Tonawanda.

Not sure where to begin when it comes to describing the Lady Warriors freshman scoring machine. Balling has an incredible gift for the game and uncanny scoring touch. She’s helped Tonawanda race to, as of press time, No.2 in small school poll and first place in ECIC IV. Against Eden, Balling fired a bullet from about 35 yards out that clanged inside the crossbar. Tonawandans will be taking about that jaw-dropping shot for years to come. Without

question best player in all of Section VI Class B.

Xavier Maye, football, Riverside.

The former Harvard Cup powerhouse has fallen on hard times in recent years, but Maye is helping them slowly turn the tide. The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Maye is an absolute force and nearly impossible to drag down one-on-one. Scored the lone touchdown in Riverside’s 6-0 win over Kenmore East to end the longest losing streak in the team’s history.

Madisyn Pezzino, soccer, Grand Island.

The super sophomore scored her 100th career goal

on Sept.22. That’s right, only a 10th grader and already has 100 goals. When it’s all said and done Pezzino will go down as one of the Vikings all-time greats. Might as well clear a spot on the GI Wall of Fame for this kid.

Julie Milbrand, volleyball, North Tonawanda.

This three-year varsity veteran had a summer to remember as Milbrand was part of the Niagara Frontier Volleyball club’s 15-1’s team that won the Girls Junior National championship that was held in Minnesota in June. Emerging as one of the best middle hitters in WNY, Milbrand is a player the Jacks can count on now and for two more seasons.

Will Boerema, soccer,St. Joe’s.

Backstopped the Marauders to the Monsignor Martin Athletic Association playoff title and a trip to states last season. Among the best keepers in the state. Driven to help his team get back to states and win.

Sydney Cerza, soccer, Clarence.

A returning All-State and All-WNY selection, Cerza is a scoring machine and all-around fundamentally sound

player for the defending Class AA champion Red Devils. Leading ECIC Division I in scoring, as of press time, and most likely all season.

Jakob Loucks, football, Canisius.

The senior QB is having a tremendous season and has been a big part to the Crusaders opening 3-0, while holding down the No.1 spot in WNY large school poll and a top-50 ranking in the country.

Jordan Evert/Brandon Smiley, football, Sweet Home.

Two of the best skilled players in the state, Evert and Smiley are equally tal-ented and explosive. Best thing about this Panther duo? No matter what kind of stats they tally, they’re always fast to give thanks and credit to their teammates on the line.

Jeremy Bari, soccer, Niagara-Wheatfield.

To say Bari has a nose for the net is, at best, an under-statement. Leads the Niagara Frontier League in scoring and will be a big part of the Falcons game plan as they go into the playoffs.

Will Smith, soccer, Canisius.

Was one of three players fighting to earn the job of No.1 goalie. Back-to-back shutout wins over Nichols and Williamsville-North secured Smith’s job for the second half of the season and going forward.

Chris Woodard, football, North Tonawanda.

By the time you read this Woodard will have already set the Jacks new all-time mark for passing. Fine foot-ball player, but a much better person. Displays the kind of class and modesty that is sometimes lost in today’s “Swag era.”

Abbey Lang, cross coun-try, Lockport.

Among the NFL elite in track and field, Lang is also top notch for the Lions in cross country.

Matt Pawlak, golf, Niagara-Wheatfield.

Pawlak, a sophomore who transferred in from St. Joe’s, is off to a flying start. He has earned medals in three of his first seven matches and helped the Falcons fly to a 7-0 start in league.

Tricia Mangan, soccer, Nardin.

A key player on the Gators squad that went to states last year, Mangan is also an accomplished Alpine skier.

Meet Charlie Greene, Buffalo’s biggest baseball boosterBy Joe Kirchmyer

Baseball is a magical game. Case in point, the story of Charlie Greene, president of the Buffalo Bisons Booster Club. Charlie’s first exposure to the game came as a boy growing up in the town of Greece, not too far from Rochester.

“My dad worked for Eastman Kodak, and they had a softball team for kids,” Greene remembered. “I did it one year and I was one of those kids who played right field and spent more time looking at the clouds than I did catching the ball, and if it was hit my way I didn’t catch it anyway. So that was the end of that, but from then on I was a fan!”

Charlie would go on to join the Rochester Red Wings Knothole Gang, a club for young baseball fans. His interest in baseball continued to grow as he became the sports editor of his high school newspaper

and later a sports reporter for his college paper. “I’ve continued to be a base-ball fan, above all, ever since,” Greene said. “And if you want another piece of interesting information,

back in the 1950s Rochester was going to lose the team when St. Louis wanted to drop it, so it became a communi-ty owned team and I still own four shares of stock in the Rochester Red Wings! Of course you don’t make any money because any profit is turned right back into the team.”

While the Red Wings helped form Charlie’s love of the game, his romance with baseball reached its peak with the Buffalo Bisons and his role in the founding of the Buffalo Bisons Booster Club.

“I was one of the originators, and once again it goes back to the Red Wings,”

Greene explained. “Back in 1984 a group of us went to a Bisons game in Rochester at old Silver Stadium and we noticed they had a booster club that operated the gift shop. On the way home we said, ‘Why can’t we have a booster club in Buffalo?’ So we contacted Mike Billoni, who was general manager at the time, and he contacted (team owner) Bob Rich and the two of them came back to us and said, ‘We were hoping somebody would do this!” We got organized over the winter and 1985 was our first season as the Buffalo Bisons Booster Club.”

The successful club currently boasts a membership of nearly 250 baseball-loving fans, and there’s always room for more. “Our primary purpose is to support professional baseball in Buffalo, and the way it starts is with the players’ wives and children,”

Charlie added. “Our theory is if the wives and children are happy in Buffalo, the players will be happy and that will help them to play better.

“As the wives arrive in town we give them seven pages of information including a welcome letter, an explanation of the Booster Club and a schedule of events that we do with the

players and their families. We also include a list of reliable babysitters that have been secured through local

churches, a list of churches of various denominations, a list of pediatricians and a list of places to visit and things to do in Western New York on the players’ day off.”

For the pleasure of Booster Club members, the group offers a picnic with Bisons players and their families in June, a dinner with the players and their families in Pettibones Grille in July and an end-of-season awards presentation where members vote for their favorite player, favorite pitcher and unsung hero. Other events include general meetings in Pettibones with a visit from a Bisons player, an off-season holiday party in Pettibones and road trips to Rochester and Toronto.

In 2014, the Buffalo Bisons Booster Club celebrated its 30th season, which featured some special recognition from Bisons officials, including a huge sheet cake observing the anniversary that was presented during the June picnic. Some on-field opportunities also took place during the recently concluded season.

“The Bisons were exceedingly cooperative,”

Greene said of the anniversary season. And now he’s looking forward to season number 31, which opens at Cola-Cola Field in Buffalo on Thursday, April 9, 2015. The Bisons’ opponent, ironically, will be the Rochester Red Wings.

To become a member of the Buffalo Bisons Booster Club, just visit Bisons.com and locate the Bisons Booster Club page under the Community heading. The cost is just $15 per person, with discounts for families. Members also receive a small premium gift and discounts to members-only events. During the season, the Bisons Booster Club also operates an informational booth at the entrance to Section 106 in Coca-Cola Field.

“We welcome anyone who wants to be a part of it,” Greene said. “There are no requirements other than to support the Bisons!”

Buffalo Bisons columnist Joe Kirchmyer is president of West Seneca-based Kirchmyer Media LLC. To contact Joe, please email jkirchmyer@verizon.net.

Photo by Jeff BarnesJunior Terrell Ford carrying the rock for the Kenmore West Blue Devils. Look for him in the D1 ranks two years from now.

Photo by Joe KirchmyerAfter three decades, Bisons Booster Club President Charlie Greene is as passionate about his team as when he attended his first game.

SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 9October-November 2014

Sat, Oct. 11, 20149:30 am - 3:30 pm

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(716) 432-7388Exit Main St. East off the 290 Youngman Hwy. or exit Transit Rd., Rt.78 North off the NYS Thruway

For dealer or show information call: Rob Schilling (716) 432-7388 or email: robschilling@verizon.netSpring Show is March 29, 2015 at the Grapevine Banquet Hall (Formerly Hearthstone Manor)

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This Show Will Feature Sports Collectible Dealers Showcasing Vintage as well as Newer Sports Cards, Items from The Aud, Publications, Programs, Pennants, Autographs, Photos, Videos, Souvenir and many other related miscellaneous Memorabilia.

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GET $1 OFF ADMISSIONSign up for our email notification and admission discounts for this & future shows by sending an email to us at robschilling@verizon.net and put “SHOW LIST” in subject line.

It’s time to recall Bills’ greatness 50 years agoBy Mike Dyer

The Buffalo Bills were just warming up 50 years ago when they beat the San Diego Chargers, 20-7, for the American Football League Championship. That was Dec. 26, 1964, just four years after the birth of the AFL.

Former Bills’ head coach Lou Saban remembered those days fondly. I spoke with him in 1982 when he was president of the New York Yankees. “We had a very close team,” Saban told me.” They were unselfish. Jack Kemp and Daryle Lamonica were challenges to each other...but they were friends.”

At the time the Bills were fortunate to have a 6-foot-4, 240-pound running back named Cookie Gilchrist who was to become Buffalo’s first bigtime rusher. “Cookie was a devastat-ing back,” Saban said. “He was so strong. He was a tempera-mental guy who forced things to happen.”

“We had great offensive linemen. We had solid people in Stew Barber (tackle from Penn State) and Ernie Warlick (a refugee from the Canadian Football League),” Saban added. “All of the players were perfectionists. They played as a team. There were no jealousies.”

When they opened the 1964 season, the Bills were a confi-dent team. There was a lot of hope for a team that included Ray Abruzzese, Glenn Bass, Wray Carlton, Elbert Dubenion, Charley Ferguson, Pete Gogolak, Ron McDole, Kemp, Lamonica and Gilchrist.

That season more than 30,000 fans showed up for the Bills’

season opener where they throttled the Kansas City Chiefs, 34-17. Kemp fired three TD passes, two of

which were hauled in by Bass.A nine-game winning streak propelled the Bills into first

place. But the Boston Patriots snapped the string of successes with a 36-28 decision in Orchard Park, including five touch-down passes from Babe Parilli.

In the AFL title game against the Chargers, Buffalo rushed for 219 yards. Gilchrist amassed 122 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown dash, and Kemp completed 10 of his 20 passes while also running for another TD. The Bills prevailed 20-7 for the first of their two AFL championship titles, shutting out the

Chargers the following year 23-0.

Gogolak was No. 1 in points for the Bills in 1964 with 102. Dubenion had a team-best 10 touchdowns and George Byrd paced the defense with seven intercep-tions.

2014 Topps Football SetThrough the years I have written how much I enjoy the

Bowman football sets of the 1950s and the Topps sets from the 60s and 70s. I have enjoyed the cards for Jimmy Brown, Bart Starr, Johnny Unitas, Joe Namath, Joe Montana, Jack Kemp, Frank Gifford and Otto Graham.

Now think of the worst football set you have seen. Maybe the 1990 Fleer or the 1992 Upper Deck. Think even worse than those sets. Now you have it, the 2014 Topps set. It is dark, ugly and not worth collecting.

There are no close-ups, no fun cards. It seems each card is pictured from 100 yards away and in a fog. I rate this set F.

Here are the top cards in the set: Matthew Stafford (5); Victor Cruz (22); Jay Cutler (31); Russell Wilson (32); Peyton Manning (37); EJ Manuel (44); Cam Newton (45); Adrian Peterson (51); Tom Brady (52); Drew Brees (53); JJ Watt (67); Andrew Luck (69); Le’Veon Bell (78); Brandon Marshall (83); CJ Spiller (85); LeSean McCoy (121); Michael Vick (123); Colin Kaepernick (141); Reggie Bush (156); Aaron Rodgers (172); Peyton Manning (174); Eli Manning (179); Jamaal Charles (181); Calvin Johnson (201); Philip Rivers (211); Ray Rice (244); Robert Griffin III (247); Marshawn Lynch (255); Rob Gronkowski (258); Ben

Roethlisberger (264); Tony Romo (274); Chris Johnson (277); Andy Dalton (278); Jadeveon Clowney RC (356); Khalil Mack RC (373); Johnny Manziel RC (429); Sammy Watkins RC (434).

Here are the Buffalo Bills: EJ Manuel (44); Mario Williams (75); C.J. Spiller (85); Bills Team Card (110); Scott Chandler (143); Mike Williams (261); Fred Jackson (265); Kiko Alonso (270); Sammy Watkins RC (434).

Mike Dyer, who lives in Cheektowaga, has been a sports card collector since 1948. He is a retired sports writer and book author. You can email him at mikedyer59@yahoo.com.

2014 local collegiate football shining starsBy Adam McGill

As the temperature dips, it’s starting to feel more and more like football weather. The 2014 collegiate football season is already nearing its midway point and some players are starting to stand out from the rest of the pack. To help you spot the local talent, here are some of the shining stars to keep a close eye on this fall.

RB Anthone Taylor, University of Buffalo

Taylor ripped off 132 yards in the season opener against Duquesne and scored two touchdowns. He added another 100-yard perfor-mance (116 yards) against

Norfolk State. Taylor is 5-foot-10, stands as a tough 207 pounds and runs down-field with authority. He is almost impossible to bring down once he gets rumbling and the junior is without a doubt Buffalo’s best offensive weapon. Taylor will continue to tote the rock for the Bulls.

WR Devon Hughes, University of Buffalo

Hughes has had some jaw-dropping plays on the outside for Buffalo. The wideout has four touchdown receptions on the year, including an electric 92-yard bomb against Norfolk State. He has become the team’s

most dangerous deep threat and will consistently help the offense stretch the field. Hughes is worth watching any time he is on the field.

DB Adam Redden, University of Buffalo

Redden (Amherst, N.Y.) has been a star on defense for Buffalo this season. The defensive back has registered two sacks and five tackles for loss through the first four games of the 2014 season. He is the leader of the sec-ondary and will continue to have an influence in the game week after week.

LB Jason Vranic, Erie Community College

Vranic has shockingly reg-istered three sacks through the first three games, includ-ing five tackles for a loss. He also recovered two fumbles and was constantly around the football. Vranic is the number one playmaker for this ECC defense, so make sure to look for No.47 when-ever watching the Kats.

RB Roman West, Erie Community College

The running back has been the key to the team’s offense this season. After the first three games, the back was leading the team in rushing attempts (29), rush-ing yards (57), receiving

yards (92), and receiving touchdowns (2). He will be a major part of this offense moving forward and will be a threat anytime he has the ball in his hands.

DB Debray Williams, Erie Community College

Williams has been all over the field for the Kats this season. He picked off two passes throughout he first three contests of the 2014 season. He also added seven tackles and broke up one pass. Williams has proven to be a real ball-hawk and he will disrupt plenty of passes this year for the Kats.

Photo by Paul Hokanson/UB AthleticsAnthone Taylor is a hard-nosed running back that brings toughness to the Buffalo Bulls offense.

THECOLLECTINGMEMORIES WITHMIKEDYER

SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINEPage 10 October-November 2014

Pro Wrestling has seen it’s share of bizarre characters over the years who flirt with the concept that they are not just bad people, but truly evil. At times, we’ve seen this manifest itself in folks like The Undertaker, Kane and Mankind. Going back a few years, some recall Kevin Sullivan, aka “The

Taskmaster.”

“...My mother told me: Son, it’s not my fault. It’s not your fault...You’re just plain evil.”

- Kevin Sullivan, sometime in the 1990s

But a Strange Wind blew through the wrestling world two years ago. The Wyatt Family first made its mark in Spring of 2012 when they bulldozed through WWE NXT.

The Family consists of “patriarch” Bray Wyatt, along with his non-biological “sons,” Luke Harper and Eric Rowan. It’s not clear whether their mission in WWE is to win matches, titles, or simply beat the snot out of people. In fact, they may answer to a loftier calling, or perhaps more sinister, depending on which side of the moral chalk line you stand.

“People like me get down on their hands and knees; they whisper these little lies & secrets in their ears...But I have a secret of my own!”

- Bray Wyatt“Do not stray!”- Luke Harper“Run...”- Eric RowanFor relative newcomers to

the business, they made quite an impact early on. Others, however, suggest they made an impact long before that. But not just on the wrestling world: Rather, on the world itself.

“I’m not afraid of their wars. I created war!”

- BraySpewing apocalyptic pre-

dictions while maintaining that he is an everyman, Bray Wyatt is a character rarely seen in pro wrestling. Admittedly, Kevin Sullivan came up with some doozies in his time:

“They took me to the thirteenth step of the thir-teenth pyramid; it was there they offered me the

cosmic cookie”- Kevin SullivanBut what has WWE told us

about the Wyatts? Do they know something about their background we don’t know? Or rather, is there something WWE doesn’t want us to know?

THEIR PAST“You were the one...they

chose you...Long before you were ever in existence.”

- Sister Abigail, to Bray Wyatt

Wrestling folks know that Bray was once known as Husky Harris. Eric Rowan sightings were made previ-ously in the wilds of Minnesota. While WWE tele-vision audiences were only told that Luke Harper was a truck driver from Rochester, NY, Fans of our Great Sport in this region are familiar with the ringwork of a the man they knew only as Brodie Lee, prior to being re-chris-tened by Bray. Brodie would drive his Big Rig up and down the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90 to non-parochi-als), winning titles, delivering boots to faces and sending opponents through the ring with his spinning choke slam.

True, when they were in NXT, the WWE developmen-tal territory, Rowan and Harper won the Tag Team Championship under Bray’s guidance. And since their ascension last sum-mer into WWE, Bray battled for the world title while Harper and Rowan had shots

at the tag belts. However, their primary focus is gather-ing a flock and breaking down those perceived as “heroes’ to WWE fans, wheth-er they be John Cena, Daniel Bryan or Chris Jericho.

“There ain’t no such thing as a hero. You’ve become addicted to the illu-sion of what a hero is...”

- Bray (all further quotes are his unless otherwise noted)

THEIR PRESENTSome say Bray sends, at the

very least, contradictory mes-sages to his followers.

“People are sheep...They can’t lead themselves, they need to be led...”

And he warns of the dan-gers society faces today…

“It’s time for the masses to wake up... wake up ...WAKE UP and look at this lie they’ve been living in...the world is deteriorating between their toes and they do nothing about it...”

At times, the implication is that he’s here to liberate The Sheep...er, the people, and lead them to better times.

“I will never turn my back on you...And maybe the answers you seek have been slapping you in the face...And maybe I, the eater of Worlds, Bray Wyatt, have been the answer all along...”

So, Bray is looking out for your interests? Well, if your best interests are his as well, then sure...we guess so.

Nobody ever said the Wyatts lacked for self-confi-dence. However, some words imply that confidence tran-scended into arrogance somewhere along the line.

Then, from arrogance to meglomaniacism.

“If you look up to me, I’m your friend. If you look down on me, I’m your enemy. And if you look right into my eyes, I’m a god.”

So how does he want fans to react to him? Should he be deemed a prophet, madman, messiah or simply a salesman peddling fear to intimated opponents and WWE offi-cials?

Or, is he simply delusion-al? Well, if the last quote didn’t help you decide, per-haps this will:

“I’ve come to remake this world in my own image...The image of Wyatt...and then, you’ll see me for what I really am: a god.”

But what does Bray Wyatt really think he is? Is he

that introspective he can tell? And if he could, would he really tell us what he thinks? Or is he just plain loco, in a well-spoken way?

THEIR FUTUREThe Wyatt Family seems

content to cause chaos, con-fusion and consternation. Despite the dark side of his philosophy, The Family is certainly garnering at least as many cheers as boos amongst the crowds (which may speak volumes about the WWE Universe).

“Parents- I need you to stop lyin’ to your chil-dren and telling them mon-sters aren’t real.. Monsters ARE real!”

But what of the future? Do they have another path they want to go down?

The key may rest not so much with Bray, but with Luke and Eric. So far, we’ve heard little from those two, other than some stern admo-nitions...

“Send us someone...just don’t send anyone you want back”

- Eric Rowan and Luke Harper

Are they totally wedded to Bray’s cause (whatever it may

be)? Or do they have their own agendas? In pro wres-tling, we’ve seen brothers and sisters double-cross each other; what would happen if Monster turns on Monster?

Bray doesn’t seem con-cerned with that possibility. His main focus, it seems, is gaining power. Whether that power is measured by success in the wrestling ring or by gathering followers through illusory promises (or fear) hasn’t become clear yet.

Either way, they simply want followers. And, in another self-description of who they are, one of their earliest (and simplest) pleas may be the most basic:

“Follow the Buzzards...”

UPCOMING EVENTSFri. Oct. 3 - WWE - Ricoh

Coliseum - Toronto, ON, Canada - 7:30 p.m.

Sat. Oct. 4 - ESW - Frontier Fire Hall, 2175 Liberty Drive - Niagara Falls, NY - 6 p.m.

Scheduled to appear: for-mer ROH Champion Adam Cole

Sat. Oct. 11 - Kayfabe Dojo Wrestling - Pineapple Jack’s , Spencerport Road -

Rochester, NY - 4 p.m.

The Wyatt Family: Dealing In Souls Whilst Kicking Some ButtBy Ivan the Impaler

Sat. Oct, 11 - Pro Wrestling Rampage - Saga Club, 3828 Washington Ave. -

Erie, PA - 7 p.m.Sun. Oct. 26- Smash!

Wrestling - Canlan Sportsplex- 3360 Wolfedale Road, Mississauga,

ON, Canada - 3 p.m.Mon Nov. 3- WWE Raw -

First Niagara Center - Buffalo, NY - 7:30 p.m.

Tue. Nov. 4 - WWE Smackdown - Times Union Center - Albany, NY - 7 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 8 - UPW - Eagle’s Club, 1200 Buffalo Road - Gates (Rochester), NY - 6 p.m.

Sat. Nov. 22 - ESW - Keenan Center Arena - 433 Locust Street, Lockport, NY - 7 p.m.

Sun. Dec. 28 - WWE - Consol Energy Center - Pittsburgh, PA - 7 p.m.

BREAKING NEWS: Hours before this issue went to press, Bray Wyatt said Luke Harper is “fixed” and has been “set free”. Luke added that he’s been “pieced together”....The implications are unclear, but No Good can come of this.

Photo Courtesy Classy Wolf MediaLuke Harper, Bray Wyatt and Eric Rowan up to no good (Last year in Buffalo).

FANTASY from page 6Larry DonnellTE, Giants

Unless you have Julius Thomas or Jimmy Graham, it’s basically a bonus when-ever your tight end produces and does so consistently. That’s why if New York’s Larry Donnell is still avail-able in your league you should consider picking him up. Through three weeks, the 6-foot-6, 266-pound tar-get is Big Blue’s leading receiver with 25 catches for 236 yards and four scores (three of which came on prime-time television against Washington in Week 4).

Travis KelceTE, Chiefs

Another tight end whose fantasy value could be on the rise with more and more playing time is the sec-ond-year pass catcher out of

Cincinnati from a year ago. Last year he underwent knee surgery forcing him to miss the entire season so as long as he stays healthy, the potential to become KC’s every-down tight end is there. And he’s got 18 recep-tions for 259 yards and two end-zone visits to date.

Teddy BridgewaterQB, Vikings

It’s Teddy Time in Minnesota and if you’re QB-needy and looking for an option, the former Louisville star has the potential to pro-vide good value as a backup. He’s definitely worth a speculative roster spot at the very least and even more so without a running game to support him. Plus he gets a stretch of teams with suspect secondaries coming up as well.

San Diego Chargers Defense/Special Teams

Seattle and San Francisco get all the attention, but San Diego’s unit is a clear top 10. It’s ranked No. 9 in the league against the run, allowing just two touch-downs on the ground and they’ve given up fewer points than both the Seahawks and 49ers. Against the Bills in Week 3, they sacked EJ Manuel three times and made him commit a safety in the end zone too.

Others to watch: Alfred Blue, RB, Texans; Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles; Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns; Josh Hill, TE, Saints; C.J. Anderson, RB, Broncos; Lorenzo Taliaferro, RB, Ravens; Owen Daniels, TE, Ravens; John Brown, WR, Cardinals.

SPORTS & LEISURE MAGAZINE Page 11October-November 2014

Butch Rolle: From football to philanthropyBy Holly Malinowski

Not many former NFLers

go on to complete a Master’s

Degree in Business, but then

again Donald Rolle is far from

ordinary.

Better-known around

Western New York as Butch,

the tight end played his col-

lege ball at Michigan State

before being selected by the

Bills in the seventh round of

the 1986 draft. During his

tenure in Orchard Park, Butch

only had 15 catches, but

amazingly ten of them—in a

row!— were for touchdowns.

Butch then headed to Arizona

where he finished his career

with two seasons as a member

of the Cardinals.

Although Butch grew up

and currently lives in Miami,

his football allegiance is still

to the Queen City. “I was for-

tunate to be at the (Bills)

home opener and I’m glad

they beat Miami,” Rolle

explained. “Being in Miami,

I’m surrounded by these

Dolphin fans all week long

and all I heard was how

Miami was going to take care

of the Bills. When that game

was over I was so happy and

could not wait to get back

home. All week long I was

throwing it in their face. It

was a good and pleasant feel-

ing.”

“In my opinion, the Bills

have the best fans in the

league,” Rolle added. “When I

played, it was a dynasty team.

Andre (Reed) just went into

the Hall of Fame, Thurman

(Thomas), Jim (Kelly),

(coach) Marv (Levy) is there.

We didn’t have the free agen-

cy where guys flip-flopped

teams; guys stayed there.

Every one there could have

been a starter on another

team because we had so much

depth at every position. I was

glad to be a part of it. The

four straight Super Bowls will

not happen again, and being a

part of it is a special thing. I

wouldn’t trade it for anything.

We’re a group of guys who

were close and we are a broth-

erhood. We just had fun. You

win, and you’re going to have

fun.”

Now that his playing days

are behind him, Butch has put

his advanced college degree to

good use. Last year, he incor-

porated the Butch Rolle

Caring for Kids Foundation

in Miami whose mission and

vision is to help transform the

lives of at-risk children and

teens by focusing on commu-

nity-based fundraisers and

working with those who

desire to make a difference for

generations to come.

“It became the right time to

start the program in the

Miami area,” Rolle explained.

“Our charities include the

Covenant House for kids in

distress and AMI Kids (kids

with legal problems). We’re

slowly trying to get it going.

I’m a Buffalo guy, but living

here in Miami I feel like I’m

the enemy here. But at the

end of the day we’re just one

big family here to help the

kids. Most of my volunteer

help and support comes from

former Dolphins players. We

all have the one goal to help

the kids. We pick a charity

we’d like to help. The kids are

getting a chance to have a

better life. Being from the

area, as an ex-athlete it makes

me feel good to help my home

city. When I was growing up I

had people doing for me, and

I think it’s the best thing for

me to do. I enjoy it. There’s so

much negative stuff going on

in the NFL right now with all

the domestic violence and dif-

ferent things. I think it’s given

the NFL a kind of black eye.

The NFL has their hands tied,

and I’m trying to make sure

this doesn’t happen again.”

Last year, the Foundation

hosted three events that

included music, bowling and

golf. Along with Robin West,

the vice president of the

Foundation, Rolle is looking

to create annual events as well

as increase participation in

the Foundation and, subse-

quently, the size of events. As

he expounded, “I’m trying to

get more hands involved who

are dedicated.”

In addition to the work he’s

doing at his eponymous

Foundation, Rolle also coach-

es youth football at Summerset

Academy in Mirimar, Florida.

He created a scholarship there

to assist students because, as

he put it, “I want to be part of

something to make a differ-

ence.”

As if his Foundation work

and coaching were not

enough to keep him busy,

Rolle also actively engages in

the International Federation

of Bodybuilding and Fitness

Men’s Athletic Physique

Category (professional level).

“This makes me a pro twice in

one lifetime,” Rolle explained.

“I got into this to motivate

myself and others, and com-

pete at an athletic level which

I enjoy doing. There are

shows throughout the year,

and right now I’m in training.

I was injured last year playing

basketball and was off for

about seven months.

Everything is fine now and I

started competing again. It

was something I wanted to

try, and ended up being good

at it. It’s giving me a chance to

be an athlete at a different

level without being beat and

pushed around. It’s a matter

of how I train and diet. It’s not

as extreme as bodybuilding

but more of a fit look. I’m

trying to be a positive role

model for the kids too. It’s a

fun time and keeps me

active.”

For more information or to

become involved in Butch

Rolle’s Caring for Kids

Foundation visit butchrolle-

foundation.org.

Local boxing happeningsBy Bob Caico

Jay Johnson of JKL Championship Promotions held his third professional boxing card of 2014 in Liverpool, N.Y. on Sept. 11. The boxers on his cards have been mostly from the Syracuse area but there has been plenty of room for fighters from Geneva, Rochester and Buffalo areas. Diana Rodriguez served as matchmaker and did a nice job of making a very compet-itive and exciting card.

Middlewight Martez Potter of Syracuse has been the main attraction on all three promotions and he hasn’t disappointed the hometown fans. Potter raised his record to 6-0 when he won a unanimous over Antonio Fernandez of Brocton, Mass.

Geneva was well repre-sented as Aleem “Hammer” Whitfield improved to 6-0 with his sixth stoppage over Eric George of Niagara Falls. Tony Brinson of Geneva (3-1-3) fought an exciting draw with Donovan Scott (0-1-1) of Patterson, NJ. Lightweight Usiel Hernandez of Geneva won his pro debut over Tyrell White of the Bronx who also was making his pro debut by four-round unanimous decision.

The best fight of the night belonged to Joe Shell of Geneva and Dante Palmer of Buffalo. Palmer (0-1) scored a knockdown in round one but Shell shook it off and composed himself to out box Palmer in the next round. The third and fourth rounds were thrilling as both boxers had their moments. Palmer’s left jab and hooks doing the damage for him while Shell’s crisper combinations were his best offence. The judges ruled that Shell’s (2-2) box-ing was enough to gain a majority decision in the four-round lightweight match.

In a battle of heavy-weights—and we mean heavyweights—Ray Santiago

of Amsterdam, N.Y. did enough to gain his first career victory (1-4) over debuting Paul DeLong of Geneva. Santiago (234-pounds) outlasted his bigger foe (296-pounds) and scored a unanimous four-round decision.

In a battle of undefeated lightweights Brandon Williams (6-0-1) of Rochester won a unanimous four-round decision over Joe Gbolo (3-1-2) of Albany. Williams used his suburb boxing skills and speed to thwart off the charging Gbolo. Williams suffered a cut over his eye that seemed to give him some concern but his ability to move in and out and score as he pleased earned him the deserved decision.

On Aug. 23, a nine bout amateur card was sponsored by Pretty Girl Promotions at the Armory in Rochester, a few hours before their pro-fessional show at the same venue. Clubs from Buffalo, Rochester and Utica partici-pated:

Zarie Dejesus (St. Martin’s) tko 2 Juel Jones (Bernard Boxing)

Jaquavion Watson (Bernard’s) dec 3-0 Angel Gonzalas (Future)

Romeo Gaines (Murry) dec 2-1 DeShawn Ruffin (St. Martin’s)

Mike Adams (Bernard’s) dec 3-0 Jaden Ruth (St. Martin’s)

Melson Modji (Buffalo Westside) tko 2 Jesus Miranda (Fight Factory)

Tracey McGruder (St. Martin’s) dec 3-0 Lane Thatcher (Fight Factory)

Hoshaw Sambolin (Fight Factory) dec 3-0 Akmed Aliyev (NWBCC)

Sequan Felton (St. Martin’s) dec 3-0 Travis Winters (Bernard’s)

Photo Courtesy of Butch Rolle and Caring for Kids Foundation

Butch Rolle poses with former teammate and Hall of Famer Jim Kelly.

Photo by Bob NewmanBrandon Williams (right) of Rochester remained unbeaten in Syracuse on Sept. 11.

TRIVIA QUIZBy Mike Fox

1. Who holds the NFL record for most points scored in a season, with 186?

a. Jim Brownb. LaDainian Tomlinsonc. Mark Moseleyd. Stephen Gostkowski2. Who is the only player

ever to amass 200 receiving yards in two consecutive games?

a. Flipper Andersonb. Calvin Johnsonc. Tim Brownd. Josh Gordon3. Who is the only running

back ever to have at least 300 rushing attempts in six con-secutive seasons?

a. Marshawn Lynchb. Adrian Petersonc. Eddie Georged. Edgerrin James

4. Only two players have ever recorded 14.5 or more sacks in three consecutive seasons: Reggie White and who?

a. Jared Allenb. Julius Peppersc. DeMarcus Wared. Dwight Freeney5. Peyton Manning set the

all-time record for passing yards in a season in 2013, with 5,477. Who was the first QB to pass for 5,000 yards in a season?

a. Dan Foutsb. Dan Marinoc. Tommy Bradyd. Drew Brees6. Who is the only player

ever to record at least 2,000 yards from scrimmage in four consecutive seasons?

a. Thurman Thomas

b. Emmitt Smithc. Jerry Riced. Marshall Faulk7. Who is the only tight

end ever to catch 18 passes in one game?

a. Jason Wittenb. Antonio Gatesc. Tony Gonzalezd. Rob Gronkowski8. Who is the only player

ever to lead the league in sacks for three consecutive seasons?

a. Bruce Smithb. Michael Strahanc. Kevin Greened. No one has ever done it9. Seven running backs

have scored four rushing touchdowns in one half of a game, most recently Doug Martin. Who is the only Buffalo Bill ever to achieve the feat?

a. O.J. Simpsonb. Roland Hooksc. Marshawn Lynchd. Joe Cribbs10. Who holds the record

for most passing yards in his first NFL game, with 422?

a. Peyton Manningb. Andrew Luckc. Robert Griffin III

d. Cam Newton

Answers

1. b 2. d 3. c 4. a 5. b

6. d 7. a 8. d 9. b 10. d

Photo by Mike MajewskiMarshawn Lynch leads all running backs in carries over the past three seasons.

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