Just after the USA’s 5-3 win over Canada, I’m hearing and reading the words “shocking” and “stunning upset” and comparisons to the Miracle on Ice win in 1980.

I’m not willing to go there.  Its a big win, no doubt.  Its an upset over a favored team playing on its home ice.  But this was not an American team made up of college kids or unknown players.  These are NHL players, some of them among the best in the league like Miller. Did the USA have as many as the Canadians?  No.  Miller may be the best goalie this year in the NHL, so for him to beat a team of other NHL stars shouldn’t be a shocker. 

I don’t think it should be at all compared to the 1980 team.  The team of college players was not on the same level of the Russians, nor was the rivalry of politican implications even close.

So enjoy this big USA win.  But let’s hold off on all the superlatives.  The Americans figured to be the fourth or fifth best team.  They beat the favored best team that really hasn’t played like that.  So relax.

A small plane crashed into a business tower that houses some federal offices in Austin on Thursday morning, engulfing the entire front half of the seven-story building in flames.

>>Read story here.

A federal law enforcement official has identified the pilot as Joseph Stack, 53, and says investigators are looking at an anti-government message on the web, linked to him. 

>> Read the message here.

While temperatures will not be that much below normal over the next 2 weeks, most days they will be running behind the statistical norms.  The threat of some snow showers appears to be with us right into early next week, in varying coverages and amounts.  A couple of days should see our daytime highs reach a smidge above the freezing mark.  However, there are signs reinforcing shots of arctic air will be arriving next week as the eastern trough may deepen again. The only remote hint of meaningful moderation really isn’t meaningful–it’s at the very end of the 18z operational GFS, and is not yet matched in most ensemble members.

Brian Moorman helped the Bills Special Teams rank 3rd in 2009 (AP Photo)

The Bills tradition of outstanding special teams continued again in 2009.  According the rankings by The Dallas News, Buffalo’s units ranked third in the NFL.  Cleveland and Tampa Bay were the only teams ahead of them.

The Bills had finished first in the rankings three times in the last six years (2008, 2005, 2004).  The other finishes were 4th in 2007 and 3rd in 2006. 

Of course, all of those teams were coached by Bobby April.  He’s now gone to the Eagles, and Bruce DeHaven will be in charge of maintaining the level of excellence that Bills fans expect.

Matt Cullen (AP Photo)

The Ottawa Senators beat the Olympic break trade deadline by making a deal for Carolina’s Matt Cullen.  They give up defenseman Alexandre Picard and a #2 pick.  Is that a deal you’d want to see the Sabres make?  Would you have been OK with dealing say, Chris Butler, for a 32 year old third line center?  Darcy Regier would not have, based on what he said during a radio interview last week.  He seemed to shut down the prospect of dealing for a rental player, especially if it cost him a young player.  Could Cullen have helped?  Sure.  Is he worth breaking the team formula of stockpiling young, inexpensive players?  The answer to that is an unanswerable question.  If he helps them win the Stanley Cup, he’s worth it. 

The real trade deadline is March 3.  What should the Sabres do?  What will they do?

Of course the CARS are the big attraction at the Buffalo Auto Show 2010, but keep your eyes open and there are some entertaining sidelights and diversions mixed with the autos.  Check out the Chicken-mobile displayed by Airport Plaza Jewelers. Owner Don Hoffman and his chicken-suited friends are giving away beaded chicken necklaces and plastic mini-chickens, just for fun.

Don Hoffman and his chicken-suited friends!

Hoffman is urging auto show visitors to join him for a unique fundraiser for the People, Inc. Foundation.  He’s selling Easter candy from Fowler’s Chocolates in his plaza “Showroom” from March 17 through April 3 with all net proceeds going to People, Inc. — which helps people with disabilities live more independent lives.

Not far from the Chicken-mobile, look for the Clunker Cube on display.  This is an old ‘clunker’ car that was pressed by Auto Recyclers of William Street and cubed by Metalico Buffalo.  In a contest co-sponsored by WIVB-TV, auto show visitors are invited to guess the weight, make and model of the cube for a chance to win prizes – flight lessons from Prior Aviation, a flat screen TV, or a Salvatore’s getaway.

Crushed clunker on display

Guessing the weight, make and model of the cube for a chance to win a prize

There are several other contests and unusual attractions.  And, there must be some free items being handed out.  I saw lots of folks carrying plastic bags that looked like they held more than just brochures about the new cars.

And, there’s one more thing you’ll find that is free this year: an air of optimism.  I talked to several dealers and salespeople Thursday night and ALL of them said they see 2010 as being a good year for sales – and certainly much better than the dismal 2009.  They said they are encouraged by the activity they’ve seen in showrooms through January and at the Auto Show so far.  And, would you believe, I talked to an auto show visitor who says he’s in the market for THREE new cars for his family!

The Buffalo Auto Show 2010 runs through Sunday evening at the Buffalo Convention Center.

http://flight3407memorialwalk.eventbrite.com/

Support the victims and their families and take this final walk on the one year anniversary of the crash of Flight 3407.

Here it is Monday, and a storm system we’ve been advertising since midweek last week still has some uncertainty in its projected path.  It will pass south of us, but the question is how FAR south, and how quickly will it redevelop into a potent coastal storm.  The NWS has a Winter Storm WATCH up for the srn tier beginning Tue afternoon, continuing into Wed evening. I feel only light snow will reach Chau and Catt Cos tom’w afternoon, with the snow picking up in the evening and into Wed AM.  Morning model runs today favor the heaviest snow initially over SE Michigan, then Ohio into PA, and then the chance of greater snows and the likelihood of strong winds well east as the storm bombs off the coast. While all of WNY will pick up some accumulation, current operational models and ensemble members favor only a chance of marginally heavy snow in the s tier and nrn PA, with several inches possible on the Niag Frontier–no sign as of this posting that the storm will take a closer path to us and bring heavier amounts.

During his annual State of the NFL news conference at the Super Bowl, Commissioner Roger Goodell was asked about the NFL’s future in Toronto.  The question wasn’t specific to the Bills, but the answer may make Bills fans feel a little better about speculation that the Candadian city is trying to steal the team.

The question was specifically asked about Toronto as an expansion market or a possible spot for a relocated team.

“As you know, Toronto is a great market. The Bills are playing up there on an annual basis in a regular season game, and then every other year with a preseason game. I think we want to continue to service that market. We have great fans there. I think it’s a great city. I think they are going to be facing, and I’ve talked to some of the leadership up there, potentially a stadium issue that is going to have to be addressed. Their current stadium, as you know, is a multi-purpose stadium and has a relatively small capacity by NFL standards. So I think there are some issues that would have to be addressed up there, but it’s a great market.”

 All along, since the Bills experiment began, the Rogers Centre has been an issue.  It is not ready to host an NFL team on a full time basis.  So any talk of buying/moving the Bills will have to be tied to a new stadium.  How quickly that will happen is directly related to how long the Bills would stay in Buffalo.

I’ve said this before, even when Ralph Wilson dies, moving the Bills is not going to be quick or easy. Toronto needs a stadium.  Los Angeles needs a stadium.  Where else?  Plus, the NFL will need a lot of convincing that Buffalo is a dead market.  So relax Bills fans, at least for now.

http://www.seethroughny.net/

This website allows taxpayers to get insight into how their tax dollars are spent in NYS.