Sabres Tonight!

Hello Bills…errr…Sabres fans!!!

Let’s get right to it, Hockey is BACK! (This is a 100% Hockey email, just FYI). Our Sabres are back on the ice taking on the Islanders at 7pm, and we’ll be showing the game at Calico Jacks with a great drink/food special! This ‘Dinner/Drinks and Hockey’ is something new we want to try and probably one of the few times we’ll be able to do this, and if we don’t get a lot of people I doubt we’ll be able to do it in the future. We’ll also have all the playoff baseball games on as well, so don’t worry about missing those. Here’s all the info:

Specials
We’ve arraigned for the following specials, starting at 6:30 and running until the end of the game: $3 margaritas, $3 pints of Blue, and $2 of Domestic Draft Beer pints. There will also be a $20 price fix special which will include a choice of 4 entrees, soup/salad, margarita, desert/coffee. If you plan to stop by please let me know by replying to this email as I’d like to give Calico’s a heads up.

Wait, What’s this Hockey you speak of?

Need to catch up on all that’s happened in the last year? There have been some MAJOR rule changes designed to open up the game and make it even more exciting. Plus, SHOOTOUTs if the game is still tied after overtime! All the major sports websites have tons of NHL features today, including the Buffalo News, which has tons of articles. Here are some links:

https://www.sabrespace.com/
http://espn.go.com/nhl/
https://www.nhl.com/

Blue and Gold is Back?
I’ve saved the best info for last, since I wanted to reward the people that cared enough to make it this far…There are tons of rumors going around today that the Sabres will be debuting new uniforms featuring a modernized version of the Blue and Gold colors! Come to Calico’s tonight to check it out and talk hockey! Hope to see you there.

GO SABRES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

— Kevin Smith

Yikes III, Sabres!

Hello all 1,355 Bills fans!

Ouch, that 82 yard kickoff return by Terrence McGee which ended with him being brought down 4 yards from the end zone is basically a good representation of the 2005 Buffalo Bills season so far. The good news is that we’ve lost all three games to NFC teams and the Jets & Patriots (who got spanked) both lost yesterday. The Bills are still in the thick of the race for AFC East title.

However, Bills Daily (www.BillsDaily.com) is reporting that a fight broke out yesterday between some of the Bills at halftime, including Moulds spitting on his teammate. GM Tom Donahoe has stated that this team is not playing as a team, and I think that’s become evident. Let’s wait and see how Mularkey approaches this problem.

NYCBBB raffled off the autographed London Fletcher jersey and raised $878 for the victims of Katrina. I know some people are mailing in checks, so if you’d like to add to this total please let me know and I’ll hold off sending the check in for a few days. Thanks to all of you that donated, we’ll have the information on the winner of the jersey in Thursday’s email.

As always, we’d love to hear your positive and negative feedback (including a member telling NYCBBB to go to Hell on our message board!) about the bars. I was in Calico Jacks and had an amazing time, and it appeared everybody else did as well (despite the outcome of the game.) Please either send me an email or post on our message board.

Sabres vs. Islanders
The Sabres will be opening the season against the NY Islanders this Wednesday at 7pm. We’re going to televise the game at Calico Jack’s and run some sort of a drink special throughout. If you’d like to be added to the Sabres mailing list, please email Kevin Smith at SMITHKE@PIRNIE.COM

Also, if you’ve requested tickets for the Sabres/Rangers game please arrange payment ASAP with Kevin.

Sahlen’s
We’ve gone through 50 pounds of Sahlen hot dogs and are now sold out! If anybody would be able to go to the Sahlen’s distributor in Buffalo this weekend and bring back more, please let me know!

Is it just me, or do Mondays seem longer after a Bills loss? I’m fired up to SQUISH THE FISH on Sunday though!!!

— Matt “talkin’ proud and still have faith in JP” Kabel

Yankees Game

Hello all,

Just a quick note… We’ve been asked a few times.

We WILL show the Yankees game on at least 1 TV in each bar IF there are playoff implications.

See ya Sunday!

Go Bills!!! And Yanks!

— Matt Soreco

ps This could very well be the shortest NYCBBB e-mail ever.

pss Sox fans, feel free to NOT send me hate e-mail. Thanks.

Buffalo Bills vs. New Orleans Saints, Fundraiser

Hello all 1,316 Bills fans,

Alright, I have to get the BS out of the way first and no, I’m not talking about the Bills/Falcons debacle. First, whoever vandalized the bathrooms in McFadden’s after the game last week, grow up. Anybody caught doing this again will be thrown out permanently and we’ll have a bathroom attendant placed in the bathroom from now on. Second, the tips for McFadden’s staff were horrible last weekend, including two tables that didn’t even leave a tip. That is inexcusable; if it’s because of poor service, notify a NYCBBB staff member located at booth by the bathrooms. And third, members who have purchased the special have been caught giving beers to those who haven’t purchased one. From now on, McFadden’s staff will only serve one beer per bracelet. Also the wings at the bar are for those who purchased the special ONLY. Anybody caught violating either of these rules will be thrown out.

I know 95% of you out there are responsible adults that the above paragraph doesn’t even apply to, and I’m embarrassed that we even have to address this. However, the stupid actions of the minority out there could potentially ruin NYCBBB’s experience at McFadden’s. If you see anybody violating these rules, please report it to a McFadden’s staff member.

OK…onto the good stuff! The Saints host the Bills in San Antonio at 1pm Sunday afternoon and JP said he’s going to come out firing! As Matt Soreco said last week, Bills Backers across America (including us!) are using this game as a fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We‘ll be raffling off an autographed London Fletcher jersey (with a certificate of authenticity) at the end of the 3rd Quarter in Calico Jacks. Tickets can be purchased from any NYCBBB staff member for $1 each throughout the game in both bars. All proceeds will be pooled together with money raised from Backers all over the country and sent to the Red Cross. Since we’re the biggest group in the country, I expect us to raise over $1,000. Other groups are asking for a $5 minimum, so we’d be happy if you’d each buy at least $5 worth of tickets. C’mon folks, please open your wallets and help out our fellow Americans!

Will YOU Be a Fair-Weathered Fan?
Please take the time to read Phil Mann’s weekly column, and learn if YOU’RE a fair weathered fan:
https://www.nycbbb.com/columns/092605.shtml

Jets at Bills
Turns out there isn’t enough interest to pay for a tour of Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 15th. Hopefully we can make it happen next year. However, we ARE planning one HELL of a tailgate for before the game for those of you going out there for it! More details to come!

— Matt “talkin’ proud and have confidence in our team!” Kabel

Yikes Part II

Hello all,

Losman’s experiencing some growing pains for sure. Lets home he learns quick, and gets out of the funk he’s in. Call me crazy, but I thought he’d jump right in and do well, and our D would carry the team ala the Ravens in 00/01. Does he know that there are other receivers besides Moulds!?!?! I guess after this long, I’m growing impatient.

Very bad news… Takeo Spikes is done for the season with a torn Achilles. Man this Monday can’t get any worse. I wish him a speedy and full recovery.

A very important announcement…

Bathrooms
We got word that the men’s room in McFadden’s was vandalized yesterday. I’m sitting here writing this in disbelief that this even has to be addressed. I’m embarrassed. Last year they brought in a bathroom attendant one week and people hated it. We let McFadden’s know, and the attendant was gone the next week. I don’t care what the outcome of the game is, there is never an excuse to act like an animal. If an attendant is needed to prevent vandalism, then there’s not much we can say or do about it.

I know 99% of our members are very good people. So, rather than lecturing you all on proper behavior, we ask that you let us know if you see anyone doing anything stupid. They will be kicked out for good.

Feedback
We’re always looking for feedback. Good or bad. The wings were better this week, right? Anything else we should know about? The best way to voice your opinion is on our message board. That way we can see it, fellow members can see it, and McFadden’s and Calico’s staff can see it.
https://www.nycbbb.com/features/message-board/

Queens Backers in Maspeth
We’re doing our best to create the largest network of Bills fans possible. Last week we mentioned a Backers in Rockland County. This week we’re we’d like to tell you about a Backers in Maspeth, Queens. Phil Hickey contacted us and let us know about his venture into Backershood. They are located at:
GlenPatricks
53-73 65 Place
Maspeth, NY 11378

If you want to know more about the Queens club, contact Phil at:
bratman717188@aol.com

Fundraising for Katrina
Remember, this week we will be raising funds for Katrina. More details will be in Thursday’s e-mail.

Someone give me some good news, please! No, saving money by switching to Geico doesn’t count!!!

— Matt Soreco

Buffalo Bills vs. Atlanta Falcons

Hello 1,309 of you!

Come to Little Buffalo and watch the Bills at home take on the Falcons this Sunday. Doors open at 11am. Game starts at 1pm.

The Bills need to get back on track after their terrible performance last week. News was that Mularkey called a few players out, including McGahee. It was reported that Willis got fired up and was hitting holes much quicker in practice. Let’s home he does that come gametime! Enough dancing Willis!

There was some sort of Mexican celebration going on in NYC last week. Street vendors were selling a bunch items to celebrate Mexican heritage. Too bad I didn’t think of it at the time, but I should have bought a bunch of sombreros for everyone to wear to welcome the arrival of Ron Mexico to Buffalo.

Injuries:
Lawyer Milloy, London Fletcher and Mike Williams are all questionable for Sunday’s game. That makes me a little nervous. But so is Ron Mexico errr Michael Vick.
Check out BillsDaily’s injury report page:
http://www.billsdaily.com/injury/

Also check out their game preview:
http://www.billsdaily.com/gameday/

Site updates:
We’ve updated our site with plenty of new stuff, including Anna’s latest pictures, fans of the week, and Phil Mann’s new column. Check out the “What’s new on NYCBBB.com” section of our homepage for links to all the latest: https://www.nycbbb.com/

Saints Game
Next week’s Saints game date and time has been confirmed. It will be as previously scheduled (Sunday 10/2 at 1pm).

Fundraising for Katrina
During the Saints game next week, we’re going to be holding a fundraiser for Katrina relief efforts. Backers groups in Boston, LA, San Diego, Tucson, Phoenix, Portland, Tampa, DC, Philly, Minneapolis, and Denver will be running fundraisers as well. All together we hope to raise a pretty penny. More details will be sent next week.

Bracelets
McFadden’s and Calico’s have different drink special bracelets, and unfortunately a McFadden’s bracelet can’t be used in Calico’s and vice versa. That doesn’t mean you can’t pop in and out to check out the different atmospheres, but you won’t be able to get drinks in the other bar.

I hope to see you all Sunday. Well actually if all 1,309 showed up, we’d be in trouble!!! So I hope to see many of you Sunday.

— Matt “aka Ron Buffalo if I ever need an alias” Soreco

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets Game, Rockland Fans

Hello all 1,313 Bills fans!

“Don’t worry about last week … The temperature at the stadium near kickoff was around 100 degrees. The 92 degrees they kept reporting was the airport temperature (near the bay). The Humidity was around 85 – 90%. There was not a cloud in the sky (therefore the sun was beating down). Us northern boys do not get along those conditions very well. If all those critics who watched the game up north were actually sitting in the stadium I don’t think they would be so quick to dismiss the temperature as a non issue for the performance.” – Kenny ‘Pinto Ron’ Johnson – Bills #1 Tailgater who was at the game

I have two subjects I want to touch on – the new NYCBBB satellite group in Rockland, and the Bills/Jets game in Buffalo. I really need some feedback about the Jets weekend, so please read below if you are attending.

Bills Backers of Rockland County
We’ve received many emails over the last year from members who live across the Hudson that can’t make it to Little Buffalo on Sundays. Well, your NYCBBB staff has decided to set up shop up in Blauvelt, NY which is on the border of NJ and NY right off the Palisades, making it easy for anybody in Northern NJ, Rockland, or Orange County to reach! Bailey’s, which is owned by a former wrestler at Univ of Buffalo named Paul Bailey, is in the process of making a private room for just Bills fans. They’re also offering the following special – from one our before the game until the end of the game you get all the wings you can eat and beer/well drinks you can drink for $25! I was told there were around 20 Bills fans there last week, so it’s starting to grow. Again, here is the address:

Bailey’s
136 Erie Street East
Blauvelt NY 10913
(845) 398-1454

Jets @ Bills October 16th
In the spring, NYCBBB decided to make our second annual trip to Buffalo the weekend of the Jets game again. Shortly after, the Bills decided to make the previous weekend Bills Backers Weekend, which has basically made it difficult for us to plan anything for the day before. We can do a tour of the stadium, which WON’T include going on the field, for $250 for a group of 50. The tour, which would be held Saturday around 1pm, will include the locker rooms, field house, press box, and tunnel.

I need feedback here, if you’re heading to Buffalo for this game I need to know whether you want to go on the tour or not? I’d like to know by Friday what we should do, so please email me your opinion when you get this. If you don’t want to do the tour, maybe there’s an alternative you’d like to do?

I apologize for not having a solid plan. NYCBBB WILL be throwing a huge tailgate party in the lot next to Kenny’s Pinto Tailgate before the game. Kevin Smith is working that out as we speak…err…type.

So that’s that. And a work of advice, as Hurricane Rita moves through the gulf the oil platforms are going to be affected, so if you’re planning on driving up for the game this weekend I recommend getting gas ASAP before prices jump again.

Have a great time in Little Buffalo this weekend, and GO BILLS!!!

— Matt “Talkin’ proud and am getting excited to be back at the Ralph!” Kabel

Buffalo Bills, Yikes!

Hello all 1,307 NYC Bills fans!

Yikes! Did you hear that? That was the sound of 1,307 NYC-area Bills fans crashing back down to earth realizing the reality of the 2005 Buffalo Bills. I’ve been saying that if the Bills offense can put up 20 points a game, we’ll win almost every contest this season. But 3 points….3 POINTS??? And no, I’m not going to take the bait and blame Losman. McGahee had only 34 yards and our supposed ‘great’ defense was manhandled by an average offense.

Is the season over? Of course not! If we were going to get manhandled, it’s best that it happens this early in the season. If we can win every home game, all we need to do is win 2 away games and there’s a solid chance we’ll be in the playoffs, so hold your heads high and get fired up to see the Bills try to tame Michael Vick and his Falcons next Sunday! I’m sure myself and the other 72,000 Bills fans at the Ralph are going to be loud as hell, so I expect you guys to be as well in McFadden’s and Calico Jack’s!

For those of you that watched the games with us this week, did you have a good time? We’re well aware of the sound problem at Calicos, which will be fixed this week. It was an unforeseeable problem, and I want to thank Calicos management for stepping up and taking care of those that watched the game there. How was everything else? If you care to opine, please post your thoughts on our message board which is monitored by both our staff and the staff of both bars.

Or feel free to email me directly by replying to this email.

Fan of the Week
We’ll have the Fans of the Week up again later this week, as a sneak preview one had season tickets to the Rockpile, including a weekly seat for a keg of beer! The other has the last name Beers…how great is that?

Pictures
Matt Soreco posted some of NYCBBB’s photographer Anna Bazzini’s pictures of last week’s game. Check them out:
https://www.nycbbb.com/pics/texans05.shtml

Saints Game
As we said, we’ll be holding a fundraiser for the victims of Hurricane Katrina during the Bills/Saints game in 2 weeks. Only problem is, we don’t know WHEN the game will be played! It could be that Sunday afternoon, or even on that Monday night! Amazes me that we’re less than 2 weeks away and the NFL hasn’t figured it out yet. We’ll let you know as soon as we know!

So again, mourn the loss for a day or so, but then focus on the promising future of our Bills!

— Matt “talkin’ proud and still fired up about our team!” Kabel

Buffalo Bills vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers!

Hello all 1,278 NYC Bills fans!

This Sunday at 1pm, our undefeated Buffalo Bills take on the undefeated Buccaneers in Tampa Bay, Florida. Both teams are very similar in that they have great defenses, great running backs, and quarterbacks looking to prove something.

The tables in Calicos Jack’s were booked solid within an hour, so we’re expecting big crowds at both Calicos and McFadden’s this Sunday. Doors open at 11am, but as always we recommend that you arrive before that if you want a seat.

Because we’re expecting a huge crowd this week, I want to remind all of you that everybody is there to root for the Bills and/or experience the WNY feel that your NYCBBB staff works so hard to create. Let’s all have a great time, RESPECT one another, have fun, and root for our team to win!

I’ve been assured that we have enough wings this weekend, but please try to get your wings early to be safe. Sahlen Hot Dogs and Beef on Weck are available as well for purchase. Also, fans in McFadden’s are no longer allowed to stand between tables/in front of tv’s. If you do, you’ll be asked to move by that massive human being named Franklin that guards the McFadden’s door. Again, please remember to tip the staff.

Bailey’s
For those of you in Orange County, Rockland County, or Northern NJ who don’t want to head into the city, feel free to head to Bailey’s Pub in Blauvelt, NY/Rockland County. It’s run by a fellow Bills fan who has the game on every week with sound and has $1 draft specials along with great buffalo wings! I hear there were 20 Bills fans there last week. It’s located at 136 Erie Street East, Blauvelt NY 10913; (845) 398-1454

Canisius
For all you Canisius College Alum out there, please contact Mike Davis about an exciting event being held in the city on November 9th and a trip to the Bills/Chargers game in San Diego on 11/20, both for Alumni. His email is Mpdinnyc@aol.com

Bills Daily
Check out www.billsdaily.com for up to date news about the upcoming game

Supposed to be 78 degrees and sunny this Sunday in NYC!

Bills 20, Buccaneers 10

WHO ELSE IS FIRED UP OUT THERE????

— Matt “talkin’ proud and fired up to see JP play again!” Kabel

Feedback Needed!

Hello all 1,243 NYC Bills fans!

WOW!! What an amazing start! Who can’t help but be fired up about Losman and our 2005 Buffalo Bills??? After a 22-7 win over the Texans, the Bills start off the season 1-0!

McFadden’s staff estimated the crowds at McFadden’s and Calico Jacks to be around 600 Bills fans! Matt Soreco and I watched the game in Calico’s and had a blast with our fellow Bills fans in there! If you haven’t checked it out yet, please do so. With crowds this big, we need to spread out between the two bars.

Again, we apologize to all of you for running out of wings. We ate more wings by halftime than we ever ate in an entire game! Because of the large crowds, we suggest getting your wings as early as possible from now on.

Also, more tv’s will be added in Calico’s this week, and the reception problems on the small tv’s are being fixed as well.

Your NYCBBB staff would like to hear any feedback you have about either restaurant, the good as well as the bad. Please either email me or post on our message board.

Overall, it looked like everybody had a great time! Who else can’t wait for Sunday???

GO BILLS!!!

— Matt “talkin’ proud and fired up about how we looked!” Kabel