SB Nation User Blog: sireric

Rumblings Book Review: Joe D's Tales From The Buffalo Bills

sireric — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:00:32 -0000

"Back when I was playing, we used to take cabs to the game from the hotel when we traveled. One time, while we were playing the Patriots in Foxboro, a cabby almost spoiled our gameplan. The guy who picked up our quarterback, Joe Ferguson, was a huge Pats fan.

He recognized who he had in his cab, so instead of heading for Foxboro Stadium, he hijacked Joe and took him in the other direction. Joe had no reason to know the Boston area that well, and didn't realize that he was going the wrong way.

When he finally did realize what was going on, he jumped out of the cab and managed to get another one. This guy was more cooperative, and Joe got to the stadium in the nick of time. There were only 10 minutes left before kick off when he came running into our locker room screaming that he'd been kidnapped."

Let that be a lesson for you: never trust cabbies, unless it's this guy. Former Bills Pro Bowl guard and Hall of Fame member Joe DeLamielleure provides us with the material for the latest installment of Rumblings Book Review. Co-authored by Micheal Benson, Joe D's Tales From The Buffalo Bills follows Joe D from his early days at Michigan State, through his years with the Bills and finally ending with his trade to the Cleveland Browns. Joe doles out lots of love in this one, starting with some of the fellow rookies he came to the Bills with - guys like Merv Krakau, John Skorupan, and Joe Ferguson. He then talks about the fans of the Buffalo Bills and how great we are (which we of course know), and finally he talks an awful lot about "The Electric Company" and "The Juice" - and why not? That is a major part of Joe D's time with the Bills.

Joe DeLamielleure gives us a unique look into the life of an NFL player in the 1970s, detailing everything from the pitfalls of traveling in other cities (see above quote) to the different ways they would try to make extra spending cash between games and in the off season. He also seems to have a pretty good sense of humor, as there are plenty of comical stories to keep you amused.

Was it Worth it?
Like Steve Tasker's Tales From The Buffalo Bills, Joe D's books is priced at $19.95 US/$24.95 Canadian. Unlike Tasker's book, I would be more inclined to pay that for this book. If you want to know more about one of, if not the best offensive lineman in Bills history, as well as The Electric Company in general, you should start with this book. It isn't just a straight love-fest like Tasker's book, either. Joe D takes a few moments to speak his mind about some topics he fells strongly about, including the Players' Union, late Executive Director of the NFLPA Gene Upshaw, and former Bills coach Chuck Knox. Joe D was and still is someone who speaks his mind and isn't one to mince words, and that really comes through in this book - except when the topic of O.J. comes up. I don't think that Joe really knows what to say about that one; he struggles between the teammate that he loved and respected and the man who committed serious crimes and is jail because of them.

General Impression
Like Eddie Abramoski's book, I give Joe D's Tales From The Buffalo Bills an A-. This is another solid read for any Bills fan that chronicles a time that most of us just don't remember, either because we weren't born yet or are too old to do so. Also, I believe that there is a picture of Kurupt on page 38! Overall, this is a solid book that won't disappoint and one that most Bills fans should take a peek at.

Poll

Are you going to buy, beg, borrow, steal, or in any other way attempt to obtain a copy of this book for the purpose of reading it, based on this review?

Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia

sireric — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:25:36 -0000

I've been reading a lot of Buffalo Bills-related material lately, the results of which can be found here. The increased Bills knowledge has really improved my trivia contest making skills, if I do say so myself. It is becoming harder and harder to make these without making them super tough. I'm not really sure what the point of saying all of that is other than to have something for the intro, which most of you don't even read. Okay, trivia away.

Mystery Player 1
I was a Cyclone.
I was a defensive end in college but moved to linebacker in the pros.
I was in the same draft class as Joe DeLamielleure.
I wore number 52.

Mystery Player 2
I attended Notre Dame.
My likeness is on Ray Abruzzese's 1964 Topps football card.
I was the color commentator for Bills broadcasts for a time.
I signed Eric's copy of Tale of the Tape. (Hope you paid attention!)

Mystery Player 3
I attended East Tennessee State University.
I also attended Alabama at Birmingham University.
I am currently the defensive backs coach at Austin Peay University.
I played for three NFL teams during my career.

Mystery Player 4
I was a teammate of Jim Kelly's in both Buffalo and with the Houston Gamblers.
Other than the Bills, the only other NFL team that I played for was the Kansas City Chiefs.
I am a member of the Arena Football League Hall Of Fame.
I was an All-American in both 1980 and 1981.

***Extra Credit***
Who caught Jim Kelly's first ever touchdown pass as a Bill? (Hope you watched that video!)
Who or what did the Bills trade to the Seattle Seahawks for Pete Metzelaars?

Rumblings Book Review: Tale Of The Tape

sireric — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:08:37 -0000

One of the rookies was a defensive lineman from Ohio State named Birtho Arnold. He weighed well over 300 pounds. We had to weigh him on the scale at the Griggs & Ball Feed Store because he was too heavy for our scales in the training room.

He was so fat; he had to roll out of bed onto the floor, and then push himself up. His thighs were so huge, they rubbed together and chafed when he ran.

One day Birtho came into the training room looking for something to put on the sores on the inside of his thighs.

I said, "What's the problem? Jock itch?" "No," he said. "Meat burns."

Tale Of The Tape, A History of the Buffalo Bills from the inside, by Eddie "Abe" Abramoski and Milt Northrop, is a fun read. "Abe" takes you on a ride down memory lane, starting with his early years when he would help out the Detroit Lions as a game day helper to the trainer (which is where he first met Buster Ramsey) to the founding of the Bills, and finally stopping at his retirement in 1997. You don't get a ton of on-field stories from Abe; instead, you get a great big helping of stuff like the above quote - but don't let that deter you. Abe gives some great insight into head coaches like Lou Saban and Buster Ramsey, as well as some guys who many Bills fans haven't heard that much about, like former equipment manager Tony Marchitte, and former team doctor Dr. Joe Godfrey.

More inside.

When reading this book you almost get the feeling you're sitting down with Abe as he goes through his thoughts. Some chapters start with one topic, and end on a completely different note as if something about the original story reminded Abe of something else and he goes off in a totally new direction. Tale of The Tape has some great photos in it as well. There is a picture on page 34 of Daryle Lamonica, Cookie Gilchrist and Elbert Dubenion which is terrific.

Was it Worth it?
The price on the cover is $10.95, and I would suggest to anyone who can get their hands on this book for that price to go for it - you won't be disappointed. It was published in 2002, and some of you might have a difficult time finding it in stores or online. I got my copy used through Amazon.com, and paid $9.50 with shipping. Mine came complete with the signature of former Buffalo Bill and politician Ed Rutkowski next to his picture. This was a very enjoyable read and I would highly suggest it to anybody who wants to learn more about not just the Bills, but the inception and the creation of the franchise we love so dearly.

General Impressions
I give Tale of the Tape, a history of the Buffalo Bills from the Inside, a very respectable A-. At just under 130 pages it won't take forever to read; it has great stories and pictures, and is jam packed with some great Bills history. Some of you will find the Epilogue very amusing, as Abe gives his thoughts on the upcoming season (2002) for the Bills, and all of the excitement surrounding the Bills' two newest acquisitions, Drew Bledsoe and Mike Williams.

The back of the book has a quote from former Bills coach Lou Saban that says it all about this book:

"Fabulous Abe...the glue that kept our team together. I enjoyed the book, it is a "must-read" for true Bills fans."

Poll

Are you going to buy this book based on this review?

Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia

sireric — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:43:57 -0000

Last week some of you ~~whined~~ pointed out that you had little chance to identify the mystery players, because they played before in an era in which y'all were born. Being that I have a two-year-old daughter at home, I am no stranger to this type of complaint, so I will take the proper course of action and fix it. I promise that at least two of the mystery players will be from the modern era. Even though nobody got Spike Jones, I think that last week went pretty well, so I will stay away from the usual disclaimers.

Mystery Player 1
I was a first round pick of the Bills.
I was a key cog in the "Electric Company"
I was a Wolverine.
My middle name is the same as sireric's.

Mystery Player 2
I was named "Most Improved Player" for the Bills in 2002.
I spent time with the New York Giants.
I was named first team Playboy All-American my senior year of college.
I am currently the offensive line coach for North Park University.

Mystery Player 3
My middle name is Dee.
I attended Central Missouri State University.
I played my entire career with the Bills.
Despite playing in only three games, I recorded 6 sacks in 1992.

Mystery Player 4
I was a Nittany Lion.
I played linebacker for the Giants the year before Lawrence Taylor took over the position.
I was a rookie the same year as Joe DeLamielleure.
My first five years in the NFL were as a Bill.

***Extra Credit***
Name every member of the "Electric Company" - including the TE and FB.
Who was the fourteenth person inducted into the Bills Wall of Fame?

Rumblings Book Review: Steve Tasker's Tales from the Buffalo Bills

sireric — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:04:26 -0000

"During that off-season, Jim (Kelly) lobbied hard for us to go to that offense full-time. His rationale in his meetings with Marv Levy and offensive coordinator Ted Marchibroda was simple but right on: "If it works, why would you do anything else? If they can't stop us, don't let us stop us. Let me do it, and let's see if they can stop us."

Little nuggets of insight into the Buffalo Bills teams of the late 1980s to mid-90s, like this quote about Kelly pushing for the no-huddle, is what I was really hoping to get inundated with when I read Steve Tasker's Tales from the Buffalo Bills. That wasn't really the case, however. Co-authored by Scott Pitoniak, the book is sort of a collection of Tasker's thoughts that have been grouped together by common theme. There are some really good quotes and stories that many Bills fans didn't know; if you are like me, however, there isn't much in this book that will make you say, "Wow, I never knew that!"

The book is broken up into nine segments, but that really could have been whittled down to three. The first part is really just Tasker talking about the front office personnel, and the players on the Bills in those days. Almost everyone is either the biggest, the nicest, the strongest, the smartest, the most athletic, or "all of the above" person that Steve has ever met. The second part is Tasker's memories of big games during his career. The Pro Bowls, the comeback, and of course, the Super Bowls. I was really hoping for his insight in this segment about plays or moments, or even something that one of the team leaders said to the other players that made a difference, but I never really got that kind of stuff. The third part really saved this book for me. Tasker tells of some famous pranks that took place, and talks about how players got their nicknames. His, for example, was "Seve." I won't ruin it and tell you how he got that nickname. There is some good stuff in this book; you just have to be patient.

Was it worth it?
The price on the cover for this book is U.S.$19.95/Canadian $24.95. (I thought that the U.S. dollar was worth less then the Canadian dollar, but oh well, that isn't my problem.) $19.95 is a pretty steep price for a book, especially one that is only 171 pages. There are some good classic photos, and as I said earlier, there are some good anecdotes about the team we all love, but not enough for my liking. Tales from the Bills is pretty easy reading. I doubt there are three straight pages of print - it is broken up quite a bit. If you can get your hands on this book for about $12 or less, put it in your bathroom and when you have a "moment," this book is a great time killer. It is segmented enough that you won't get stuck on the bowl for so long that your legs go numb.

General Impressions
I would give Steve Tasker's Tales from the Buffalo Bills a solid C+. It was an easy read with some nice pictures. The price tag and the fact that it didn't overwhelm me with great inside stories from those Bills teams bring the grade down. It is a good book to read if you were too young to remember those teams or if you don't recall much from that time when it comes to the Bills. Worth the time, at the right price.

Poll

Are you going to buy this book based on this review?

Yes

48 votes

No

179 votes

227 votes | Poll has closed

Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia

sireric — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:24:00 -0000

I must admit that I enjoyed looking up the Bills players from last week. So I think I will continue that trend this week. Four Bills players who were key cogs in the Buffalo Bills machine of old make up this week's trivia segment. Again, these aren't players who you will find on Kurupt's Top 50 Bills list, but they are guys who deserve some credit, and I am going to give it to them.

Just when I think I don't have to remind you fellas not to cheat, somebody goes and does it. So here is the deal; cheat if you want - I know plenty of you do - but all I ask is that you refrain from posting the answers so that the honest players don't see the answers that you cheated to get. Easy, right?

Mystery Player 1
I was a Shocker.
I was runner-up for the NFL Rookie of the Year award behind Joe Greene.
I am a member of the Tampa Sports Hall of Fame.
I played my final NFL season in a Green Bay Packers uniform.

Mystery Player 2
I was a Hawkeye.
I went to the same high school as Dan Klecko.
I played my entire career as a Buffalo Bill.
My cousin Mike also played for the Bills.

Mystery Player 3
I attended Texas A&I University.
I led the Bills in interceptions in both 1973 and 1975.
I played 10 NFL seasons, over half with the Bills.
17 of my 19 career interceptions came as a Bill.

Mystery Player 4
I was a Georgia Bulldog.
I played for three NFL teams during my career.
My first name is John.
I was a Round 4 pick of the Houston Oilers.

***Extra Credit***
Mystery Player 3 led the Bills in interceptions in 1973 and 1975. Who did it in 1974?
How many career interceptions does O.J. Simpson have?

Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia

sireric — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:31:54 -0000

Good morning Rumblers. Last week on TMBT, I went with four Bills players that you should have known quite well, with the exception of No. 4 - but you can get over that. This week, I am going to leapfrog on Kurupt's outstanding 50 greatest Bills segments, by choosing four Bills players from old that you should know, but perhaps don't. None of these guys are in K's 50 greatest line-up, but all were solid contributors to the Bills through the years. Maybe this will spark some nostalgic reminiscing... or not.

Mystery Player 1
I spent thirteen years in the NFL split between the Bills and one other team.
I attended Grambling State University.
My lone Pro Bowl selection came as a member of the Bills.
I topped 1,000 yards only twice in my career, but both as a member of the Bills.

Mystery Player 2
I attended Missouri University.
I led the Bills in rushing in 1979.
I also fumbled an incredible 10 times that season.
I played one year for the Houston Oilers before retiring.

Mystery Player 3
I was born in Verdun, France.
I attended North Carolina Central University.
I amassed 28 interceptions during my 10-year Bills career.
I led the team in interceptions with 7 in 1985.

Mystery Player 4
I attended Notre Dame.
In 1988, I led the league with 16 touchdowns.
My lone Pro Bowl selection came after my rookie year with the Bills.
I won the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1988.

***Extra Credit***
In 1979, Mystery Player 2 led the Bills in rushing. Who was second?
Hank Bullough coached the Bills at the start of the 1986 season. How many games did he coach before being fired and replaced by Marv Levy?

Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia

sireric — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 19:23:22 -0000

This week for Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia, I am going to post facts about Buffalo Bills players that you all should know. The trick is that these will be little-known facts. I will list clues that you might not ever have heard of before. I know, you hate me, but that's okay, I'm used to it. Obligatory warnings here; no cheating, beware the false clues.

Mystery Player 1
I transferred from Western Illinois State University.
I played in six Super Bowls.
I won an "Unsung Hero" award at the NFLPA Awards Banquet in 1996.
I finished with 23 career touchdowns.

Mystery Player 2
I tied for the league lead in interceptions in just my second year.
I earned a Pro Bowl berth that same year.
I only recorded 10 more interceptions the rest of my career.
I am a member of the Bills Wall of Fame.

Mystery Player 3
I turned down a scholarship to PSU, because I didn't want to be a linebacker.
I scored 83 career touchdown in the USFL.
I was on the cover of Sports Illustrated holding a New Jersey Generals helmet.
The Bills drafted me in the third round.

Mystery Player 4
I was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals.
I started at NC State, then transferred to Tennessee.
I have a degree in Engineering.
I spent five years with the Bills before retiring.

***Extra Credit***
In 1988, Bruce Smith lead the Bills in sacks with 11. What players finished second and third that year?
In 1993, the Bills returned 3 interceptions for touchdowns. Who scored them?

Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia

sireric — Thu, 21 May 2009 00:20:34 -0000

It's Tuesday, which means another edition of Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia at Buffalo Rumblings. Lately I have been feeling very nostalgic. So this week we are going old school - if any Bills players that played for the team before the 1990 season come to mind when mulling over the clues, forget them. I suspect someone like freddyjj will do fine with this, but time will tell. One last thing - I don't know if anybody picked up on this or not, but last week, I had zero false clues. That will change this week; I might even add extra to make up for it.

Mystery Player 1
I was nicknamed "The Dancing Bear".
I am on the Top 70 Redskins of All Time list.
I have 12 career interceptions.
I am a member of the All-Time All-AFL second team.

Mystery Player 2
I attended The Citadel.
I hold the record for most consecutive AFL Championships.
I am a member of the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
My middle name is Leo.

Mystery Player 3
I attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
My son Mike played and was a General Manager in the sport of hockey.
I spent two season playing for the Bills in the AFL.
I was only the fourth player ever to start a game at QB for the Cleveland Browns.

Mystery Player 4
I was a Kentucky Wildcat.
I was the second overall pick in my draft class.
I wore jersey number 67.
I spent ten years with the Bills, and finished up my career with two with the Chiefs.

***Extra Credit***
In 1990 Bruce Smith lead the Bills with 19 sacks. Who was second?
Three players were tied in third with 4, name them.
What positions did Paul McGuire play for the Bills?

Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia

sireric — Tue, 19 May 2009 02:12:04 -0000

After a brief hiatus, Tuesday Morning Bills Trivia is back! Now that the aura surrounding the draft has died down, yours truly can get back to the business of stumping you with some trivia. In case any of you have forgotten the rules, here they are: No cheating - cheating being looking up the answers somewhere other than in your memory banks. If you do cheat, just keep the answers to yourself and give the honest players a chance. Also, I can be a sneaky jerk and slip in a false clue or two just to throw you off, so watch out for those. And away we go...

Mystery Player 1
My middle name is Bernard.
I won the Outland Trophy my senior year in college.
I have two career interceptions.
I was inducted into the Hampton Roads Sports Hall of Fame.

Mystery Player 2
I was an Aztec.
I was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in my first season with the Bills.
I finished my career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
My middle name is Wendell.

Mystery Player 3
I attended Jackson State University.
The Bills drafted me in the fourth round, No. 109 overall.
I finished my career with the Eagles.
I started for the Bills during Super Bowls XXV and XXVI.

Mystery Player 4
My middle name is Concepcion.
I am now a stand up comedian and a broadcaster for Spanish television.
I attended San Diego State University.
I played for five NFL teams during my career, the Bills being the first.