I Believe

I've always thought that context is important, especially when reading someone else's writing. Motivation, biases, opinions. They all matter, and they all influence how you write. A guy from LA and a guy from Atlanta are going to have different takes on the same Braves/Dodgers game, and they're damn well going to have different opinions on Michael Vick's, uh, alleged dogfighting issues.

With that in mind, here are a few tangents to give you a little bit better idea where I'm coming from when I write.

I believe that Barry Bonds cheated, Pete Rose should be in Cooperstown, and so should Jim Rice.

I believe the University of Miami won the national title in the 2002 Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State. You'll never be able to convince me otherwise, just like you'll never be able to convince me that the ensuing Maurice Clarett saga, from his one-and-done attempt, to being the one back that couldn't make it work with the Broncos, to getting arrested while looking like he was about to re-enact the final scene of Scarface, wasn't his karmic punishment for being a part of that larceny.

I believe that the supreme irony of the last 5 drafts occured in 2005 when the Titans passed on Antrel Rolle because they didn't want to deal with the "character issues" that came with Miami players. Instead, they chose one Adam "Pacman" Jones.

It is my firmly held conviction that Duke is an earthly embodiment of evil. The same could be said of Florida State, but they're in different categories. Florida State is like the evil hillbillies of Deliverance, whereas Duke is a little more like Hannibal Lector in Silence of the Lambs. Bobby Bowden has probably owned slaves at some point, but Koach K most certainly has bodies in his basement. Or maybe he learned from Dahmer, and uses a tub of hydrochloric acid to get rid of them.

I hate the Patriots, Jets, Maple Leafs, Spurs, and the state of New Jersey. That being said, I have a grudging respect for all of them. Except for New Jersey. The only things I have ever liked about that particular place are the perfect field-storming executed by Rutgers last year after the Louisville game, Greg Schiano in general, and my friend Tim who lived down the hall freshman year.

And then of course, there is the Buffalo Sports Fan Creed. I believe that Frank Wycheck thew a forward pass, that Brett Hull didn't score, and that Scott Norwood shouldn't get killed as much as he does. A 40-yard plus kick on grass is not a gimme.

I believe in my teams, whether or not I am given any reason to. I still haven't gotten rid of the beard I sported during the Sabres' postseason run, and I'm trying to decide whether I want to replace my McGahee jersey with Lee Evans or Marshawn Lynch. I'm convinced that Randy Shannon is going to turn it around this season in Coral Gables.

Beyond that...I believe in the power of a crowd to influence games, the existance of clutch hitting (stats be damned), and the healing power of having a drink with your friends while hoping for next year. And personally, that's about all I need.