In Buffalo, Bucky Gleason wrote the "attitude toward the Sabres and Bills has taken such a dramatic turn" in the last seven months, and the city has "transformed into a hockey town with a football team for one reason among all others: ownership." Sabres Owner Terry Pegula has "shown a greater commitment to winning before his first full season with the Sabres" than Ralph Wilson "has in 51 seasons owning the Bills, plain and simple." Pegula "brings faith and a sense of relief." Gleason noted, "This isn't meant to slam Wilson or pile on the Bills. It's to exploit the obvious contrast between them and the Sabres. Both teams should be making an honest attempt to win in exchange for your money, a concept that had been lost in Buffalo until Pegula rolled into town" (BUFFALO NEWS, 8/25).
PEACE BE WITH YOU: Knicks consultant Donnie Walsh, less than two months removed from stepping down as the team's President of Basketball Operations, said, "I know it's hard to believe, but I enjoy doing nothing." He added, "I think I can do that better than anybody." Despite his current role with the Knicks, Walsh has been mentioned as a possible candidate to return to the Pacers' front office. He said, "I don't look at consulting as a 24-7 job. ... I'm never going to say I won't do it anymore. I'm not going to do that" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 8/25).
WESTWARD PROGRESS? In Orlando, Mike Bianchi wonders when there is "discussion about moving a team to L.A., why aren't the Tampa Bay Bucs ever brought up?" The Buccaneers are "located in an area that is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the worst sports cities in America," and Bianchi notes the Rays' fan base "continues to be among the sport's worst." Bianchi: "The fan apathy toward the Bucs is even more baffling because Tampa has always fancied itself as a football town. But I would argue Jacksonville is much more passionate about its perennially mediocre Jags than the Bucs are about the one of the hottest young teams in the NFL" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 8/26).
