You can go anywhere else in the Buffalo blogosphere right now and read some amazing posts about the Sabres playoff game tonight (especially here, here, and here), so I figured I'd write something a little closer to my heart. There is a great feeling in the air right now. For me it is a combination of terror, anxiety, and pure adrenaline...I call it a "PuppaBeebe". It brought up some memories that I have been wanting to share for awhile now, so here goes nothing.
Home Sweet...kinda home
The Scizz
As most of you know, the authors of this blog are ex-pats, uplifted from their roots and currently living in or around New York City. However, I am not "technically" from Buffalo or it's surrounding suburbs. I grew up 50 miles South of Buffalo in a tiny village/farm-town whose only claim to fame is one quasi-celebrity and one quasi-pro-athlete. It was a great little place to grow up in, but for the longest time when asked where I was from, my reponse was "Buffalo". There is rarely a person in New York City who knows where the hell Franklinville is, so Buffalo is the easiest answer. Yet Buffalo is a place I have always identified with. I mean since there was NOTHING in my town, Buffalo was where my family and friends traveled for shopping, entertainment, and anything else non-cow related.
Most importantly, Buffalo was where my teams were. The Bills and the Sabres were the real reasons I identified with Buffalo. Sure, I spent time on Chippewa partying....after I turned 21 of course (Hi Mom). I wasted countless hours roaming the Walden Galleria. I tried weekly to convince my parents to take me to Duff's or Anchor Bar. But the teams were my true love. These teams as it turns out, or more importantly their fans are one of the main reasons I am still living in the Tri-State area. Confused?
As most of you know, the authors of this blog are ex-pats, uplifted from their roots and currently living in or around New York City. However, I am not "technically" from Buffalo or it's surrounding suburbs. I grew up 50 miles South of Buffalo in a tiny village/farm-town whose only claim to fame is one quasi-celebrity and one quasi-pro-athlete. It was a great little place to grow up in, but for the longest time when asked where I was from, my reponse was "Buffalo". There is rarely a person in New York City who knows where the hell Franklinville is, so Buffalo is the easiest answer. Yet Buffalo is a place I have always identified with. I mean since there was NOTHING in my town, Buffalo was where my family and friends traveled for shopping, entertainment, and anything else non-cow related.
Most importantly, Buffalo was where my teams were. The Bills and the Sabres were the real reasons I identified with Buffalo. Sure, I spent time on Chippewa partying....after I turned 21 of course (Hi Mom). I wasted countless hours roaming the Walden Galleria. I tried weekly to convince my parents to take me to Duff's or Anchor Bar. But the teams were my true love. These teams as it turns out, or more importantly their fans are one of the main reasons I am still living in the Tri-State area. Confused?
Ali/Frazier. Yankees/Red Sox. Ferris Bueller/Ed Rooney. And then there is this....
As we all know, Buffalo and it's surrounding counties are not exactly a hot bed of financial success and opportunity right now, nor were they almost eight "holy shit" years ago when I graduated college (pause to fight anxiety attack and tears. Aaaaaaaand I'm good). However, after graduating in 2003 I got a job in Cheektowaga and there I worked for a solid nine months at a job that sucked. The people were cool but it was wiping me out. I was working 75-80 hours a week, I missed my college girlfriend who was in Long Island, I gained over 20 pounds, and I was not doing anything that even remotely resembled what I thought I would be doing after graduation. I knew I had to leave the area I loved.
Enter June 2004, and I was on my way to New York City. I had a couch at my best friend's apartment in Queens, a couple grand in the bank, and absolutely zero job prospects, but I figured what the fuck; let's do this. The problem? I had no idea what "this" was. I eventually found a shitty job that paid enough to get a decent enough apartment but life in the city was not exactly for me. I had a few friends here, but damnit I missed Western New York. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I just missed it. I was seriously considering calling it quits and heading back home. Maybe I wasn't meant to be here and needed to be within driving distance to Mighty Taco or Jim's Steak-Out. I was about to start looking in to leaving New York, and then it happened:
Enter June 2004, and I was on my way to New York City. I had a couch at my best friend's apartment in Queens, a couple grand in the bank, and absolutely zero job prospects, but I figured what the fuck; let's do this. The problem? I had no idea what "this" was. I eventually found a shitty job that paid enough to get a decent enough apartment but life in the city was not exactly for me. I had a few friends here, but damnit I missed Western New York. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I just missed it. I was seriously considering calling it quits and heading back home. Maybe I wasn't meant to be here and needed to be within driving distance to Mighty Taco or Jim's Steak-Out. I was about to start looking in to leaving New York, and then it happened:
The details are still fuzzy from most of these days
It was the 2004 pre-season and I was dying to watch my Bills play. I googled "Buffalo Bills Bar NYC" and found a bunch of dead-ends. I would call bars and ask about Bills' fans watching their games and got the basic "No, we don't show those games anymore" or "I have no idea what you are talking about". Then I found it; The Buffalo Bills Backers of NYC at McFadden's on 42nd and 2nd. I sent an e-mail to a random guy named Matt and the following Thursday night I was watching a pre-season game with about 10 other Bills fans AT A BAR IN FUCKING NEW YORK CITY!!! Maybe that doesn't seem like a big deal now, because every sports team seems to have their own "spot" in the city to watch games with other fans, but at the time this was cutting edge. God's honest truth, the only other fans that were pulling this off were from Pittsburgh, Boston, and Philly. After that night the rest was history. I never missed a game at McFadden's for the next three seasons. It was my release, my connection back home, my excuse to get drunk on a Sunday afternoon and fall asleep on someone's lawn at 6pm in the middle of Flushing (actually happened).
I don't think I have ever told anyone this, but if it was not for McFadden's I would not be here. I was sick and tired of New York and having that little taste of Buffalo/Western New York once a week saved me from leaving. I just needed a fix. A $20 all you can eat and drink fix with total strangers who had the same passion that I had. I met people there that I am still friends with today. My girlfriend and I actually became an official "couple" after I took her to McFadden's a few years ago. I kid you not. Drunk and in our matching Poz Jersey's, we declared our admiration for each other and made it happen. You can't make this shit up.
This past year, despite the fact that the Bills are a terrible franchise, I decided to grab a couple of friends and go back for old times sake. It was like I never missed a game. The Bills slaughtered the Bengals and the only difference was the celebratory drinks at the end of the game. Instead of a SoCo and Lime shot, it was a 12 year Macallan's (Thanks Nate).
I don't think I have ever told anyone this, but if it was not for McFadden's I would not be here. I was sick and tired of New York and having that little taste of Buffalo/Western New York once a week saved me from leaving. I just needed a fix. A $20 all you can eat and drink fix with total strangers who had the same passion that I had. I met people there that I am still friends with today. My girlfriend and I actually became an official "couple" after I took her to McFadden's a few years ago. I kid you not. Drunk and in our matching Poz Jersey's, we declared our admiration for each other and made it happen. You can't make this shit up.
This past year, despite the fact that the Bills are a terrible franchise, I decided to grab a couple of friends and go back for old times sake. It was like I never missed a game. The Bills slaughtered the Bengals and the only difference was the celebratory drinks at the end of the game. Instead of a SoCo and Lime shot, it was a 12 year Macallan's (Thanks Nate).
Things done changed
Then it happened again. It was Spring 2007 and I started becoming disillusioned with the big city. I had a huge break-up and was in the middle of switching careers so the entire idea of "NYC" just made me bitter and angry. Western New York seemed like the best place to go in order to lick my wounds and revitialize. Wrong again. All I needed was the Buffalo Sabres, NHL playoffs, and some die-hard fans. The Sabres were on their way to winning the President's trophy and I was following every game. It was one of the only things making me happy over that time span.
I distinctly remember my college friend Dri telling me to come hang out with her at some bar on the Upper East Side called Kinsale Tavern because her boyfriend was bartending there. She promised he would put the Sabres game on because they had the NHL package. So I called up one of my high school buddies who now lived in the city and a couple of friends I had met at a bar during the playoffs the previous season and we decided that this place was a prime spot for our hockey needs. In fact, Dri even said that there was a couple of lunatics that were coming in for almost every single game that season anyways, so they always had the game on. Enter The Yachtsman and The Apologist. A bond was formed.
I distinctly remember my college friend Dri telling me to come hang out with her at some bar on the Upper East Side called Kinsale Tavern because her boyfriend was bartending there. She promised he would put the Sabres game on because they had the NHL package. So I called up one of my high school buddies who now lived in the city and a couple of friends I had met at a bar during the playoffs the previous season and we decided that this place was a prime spot for our hockey needs. In fact, Dri even said that there was a couple of lunatics that were coming in for almost every single game that season anyways, so they always had the game on. Enter The Yachtsman and The Apologist. A bond was formed.
Actual photo of Yachtsman and Apologist? You be the judge.
There was no turning back now, Kinsale had literally become our home. We knew all the bartenders by name and they knew us. The Owner was well aware of our congregation and he made sure to have Blue on draft (Thanks to The Yachtsman) and flatscreens with sound for us every game. One random night they even let us hang a Sabres flag up that stayed there until just a few months ago. I made friends during that playoff stretch that I will be close to my entire life. I have been to a wedding of a couple that I met at Kinsale and they even have a brand-new beautiful baby boy (I told them to name him Jhonas. Didn't happen). Bottom line is, if it was not for The Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres, I most likely would have bailed on New York and some of the best friendships of my life would have never been formed. I sure wouldn't be writing for this blog. Although maybe Phil from Blue & Black & Gold would have me if I ended up in Buffalo? Wink.
These teams bring people together. Yeah this Pegula thing might be a bit over-played, and maybe we are a biiiiiit too confident as fans heading into this first round match-up, but damnit doesn't this feel great right now? I know both teams have broken all of our hearts insurmountable times, but when it comes down to it it's not just about the teams, its about the people you watch these teams with. Those people are WNYers, and they are fucking phenomenal. Corny cliche finished. Enjoy the series everybody and look for round two of the DGWU Sports podcast next week! OOOH! AAAH! SABRES ON THE WARPATH!!!!
Sidenote: Watching the game toninght at Kinsale (like old times) on 93rd and 3rd. Stay tuned to find out where else you can join DGWU Sports to watch the playoffs!
These teams bring people together. Yeah this Pegula thing might be a bit over-played, and maybe we are a biiiiiit too confident as fans heading into this first round match-up, but damnit doesn't this feel great right now? I know both teams have broken all of our hearts insurmountable times, but when it comes down to it it's not just about the teams, its about the people you watch these teams with. Those people are WNYers, and they are fucking phenomenal. Corny cliche finished. Enjoy the series everybody and look for round two of the DGWU Sports podcast next week! OOOH! AAAH! SABRES ON THE WARPATH!!!!
Sidenote: Watching the game toninght at Kinsale (like old times) on 93rd and 3rd. Stay tuned to find out where else you can join DGWU Sports to watch the playoffs!
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