2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Champions Cup Game 1

We can't say this was a surprise. While I did pick Buffalo to win, I had thought that Saskatchewan was the more balanced, better goaltending team (Bold is better than Cosmo though Buffalo has the better tandem, in my opinion). Now while we might expect the Rush to get the job done, Buffalo did go to their barn a few months ago and stole one - it's the difference as to who hosted first.

Champions Cup (Game 1):

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Weekly Total: 0/1

Season Total: 53/81 (.654%)
Postseason Total: 3/7 (.429%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Champions Cup (Game 2):

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Champions Cup (Game 2):
1. (2) SASKATCHEWAN - In the driver seat, don't want to go back to Buffalo.
2. (1) BUFFALO - Got their hiccup out of the way, but can't do that again.
3. (3) GEORGIA - Those trades and picks from this decade are paying dividends. .
4. (4) COLORADO - Into the deep freeze for now.
5. (5) NEW ENGLAND - That close, big step up from recent franchise history.
6. (6) CALGARY - A 2004 rematch? Maybe next year.
7. (7) VANCOUVER - One less division opponent and still can't find playoffs.
8. (8) TORONTO - Safe to say Toronto's worst ever season.
9. (9) ROCHESTER - Speechless.

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky

2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Division Finals Week 2

The Bandits didn't have to wait long to discover who their guests would be next Saturday night. While they were involved in a high scoring affair, their next counterparts were on pace to finish well below ten goals, however that changed in the second half given the big run the Rush had went on. The Black Wolves looked more impressive than Calgary, though the Riggers had the better finish to their loss than did New England. Though Game one will be in Buffalo next week, game two the week after will be in Saskatchewan. If the series is tied after that point, they'll both lay it on the line the following week in Buffalo.

Division Finals (Game 2):

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Weekly Total: 2/2

Season Total: 53/81 (.654%)
Postseason Total 3/6 (.500%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Champions Cup (Game 1):

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Division Finals (Game 2):
1. (1) BUFFALO - Black Wolves made them earn the spot in the finals.
2. (2) SASKATCHEWAN - Must win game two at home - we know Buffalo can win at SaskTel, but Edmonton are historically good in Buffalo.
3. (3) GEORGIA - Have the most potential heading into next season.
4. (6) COLORADO - Not the same team from seasons past.
5. (4) NEW ENGLAND - Worked hard, but it's all for not.
6. (5) CALGARY - A momentary lapse of reason led to their demise.
7. (7) VANCOUVER - With improvement from last they could make a playoff push.
8. (8) TORONTO - Need to do what Calgary did this year and rebound quickly back into playoff picture.
9. (9) ROCHESTER - What does this mean for the Thruway rivalry?

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky

Arsenal Wore Green?!

Yes they did, 1982-83 was the season. They almost did it in 2009 but ultimately went against the idea. one of these happened to arrive yesterday. I managed to ad a different color Arsenal kit to the collection of the non primaries. I have yet to go blue or white though the white ones aren't so appealing. I would like to get a keeper jersey at some point, but we'll see where I get.

It become the second oldest era of jersey that is on hand, behind only the 71 double-winning away kit. I am also working on other 90s Premier League jerseys including a couple of Manchester United ones, though I am not particular for the club. The next bit of writing on here will be as a college graduate (I finished in December) that I was expecting to happen a year and a half ago thanks to certain people at Springfield College when I was going there, I won't name names. However, I have many other things that I was worrying about to be upset with said Springfield faculty and staffers. But as the bigger man, I never said anything publically. I won't say another word on it.

-Ricky

Knighthawks of the Round Table

As you saw via our Twitter handle, we had a purple Rochester Knighthawks jersey as a part of a set I had been working on for about three weeks. Given how their jerseys improved when a majority of the MILL teams got both a uniform and logo branding overhaul. Rochester, a year old at that time only received a face-lift on the logo but a complete makeover on their uniforms - some of the best in history and the best set in their franchise. Regular BNG readers are aware of my love for the team alternate in that set and might recall that the home and road from this era were used to help improve the brand of the Adelaide crows clash jumpers last year. It was this uniform set that I felt the need to live up to while improving on the sets following that second installment. The former is easier said than done but the latter is the simple part.

Not only did I feel it was necessary to get Rochester back to where it was on the league jersey totem pole, but modern elements were needed to prevent a lack of presence.The side panel gradients are the first htings that should jump out, given most of the NLL teams currently model them. Like the Philadelphia Wings concept from this spring, I looked to the ugly shields that are paraded on the Bandits present uniforms that house the television numbers. I turned the logo into an impromptu TV number accessory to help the sleeves from being bland. For the numbers, I referenced the Detroi Lions, which appeared to most closely fit with the team's identity to me. I did however keep the patches they currently don as I felt I might receive strong negative criticism from Knighthawk fans if I hadn't, though I don't care for them on both shoulders (one would do just fine). And yup, you guessed it, something I'm disappointed wasn't done for their twentieth season or anniversary - the return of the teal "Rochester" jersey. This with slight moderations to accommodate the template. The closest they've come to replicating this is replacing "Rochester" with "Knighthawks" as well as adding a triple hem stripe pattern with matching arm stripes and a collar in purple with the return of the "Care Bear" stars that has (fake) white laces. Okay my work is done here for now. Best!

-Ricky

Herdball for Tim Laker

There's a lot of back story about former Buffalo Bison Tim Laker. The catcher was a fan favorite in 2001, him and third-baseman Greg LaRocca both had my attention in addition to second-baseman Zach Sorensen (who later became an LA Angel for a short length of time) and new outfield addition Milton Bradley (august 2nd). On an aside, it turns out my mother had gone to high school with Phillies Hall-of-Famer and former Bison fan favorite Dave Hollins. One late summer night on Thursday, August 23, 2001 against the since relocated Ottawa Lynx (Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs), I had my first recollection or interest of the Bisons during a 7-0 rout of the team from the Canadian capitol. This was despite having been to my first Herd game of the new millennium for the Independence Day spectacular fireworks on Monday July 3rd the previous year against Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons (now Rail Riders). Then a week or so later, the herd finished 13.5 games ahead of eventual the runners-up Red Barons in the International League's north division. Scranton-Wilkes Barre lost game one of the Governor's Cup series at home to the Louisville RiverBats on September 10. Because of the following day's events, the series was cancelled and the RiverBats declared the champions of the IL and would shorten their nickname to the Bats and slightly rebrand.

So what happened to Tim Laker after his stop in Buffalo? Before we discuss that, let's find out how he got here. He was drafted in 1987 by Kansas City out of high school (Simi Valley, CA) and the year after by Montreal from college (Oxanrd). It was through Montreal which he had made his first acquaintance with the Rich family (mentioned on Monday's post). Through two and a half years and two more promotions, Laker found his way to Double-A Harrisburg by the end of 1991 and at the end of the following year, he got the September call-up from the big club north of the border, who were preparing plans for a new stadium in 1994. Through 1994, he spent time yo-yoing between Montreal and Triple-A Ottawa up the corresponding section of the Trans-Canada Highway.

Following a year away to injury, 1997 was split between AAA Rochester and affiliate Baltimore. 1998 was busy between two clubs and respective Triple-A clubs before Pittsburgh kept him in Nashville to start 1999 before another call-up sent him to the Buccos before being spending all of 2000 back with the Sounds in Nashville. It was just thirty days before this game in which he was call-ed up by the Tribe in Cleveland. Though he spent time both in Cleveland and Buffalo, he would wind up in Single-A Columbus (South Carolina) to end the season. This was just a blip as Tim was able to enjoy stability at the Indians' Jacobs Field for two whole seasons. 2005 was interesting as for one day, Laker was a Tampa Bay Ray before going to Triple-A Durham. The solitary year in Durham turned into a return to Buffalo in 2006 with a stint at "the Jake" for three weks starting in late May. At seasons end and thirty six years of age in 2006, Laker called it a day and hung up the spikes.

But the action happened after he called it quits. When the Mitchell Report was released in relation to the steroid and performance enhancing drug scandal, Laker's name was mentioned. he was a client of Kirk Radomski from 1995-1999, but openly admitted a year after the report that he had made an unwise choice in doing so. And there youhave the abridged biography of Tim Laker without referencing any sources that I haven't read in at least five years to remember where to like you to that isn't Wikipedia in this case. Buffalo was the one positive of his career. for as much time as he spent here, it allowed him develop rapport in his first stint in Buffalo with manager Eric Wedge who brought Laker with him to Cleveland after Wedge's promotion to managing the Tribe. I guess that means Buffalo really is the "City of Good Neighbors," even if you aren't from here.

-Ricky

July 3, 2001 was the last day of the home stand before the next road trip.

2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Division Finals Week 1

It was interesting early on, but the Rush ran away with it in the end. It was possibly in part that the old man Mike Poulin was put in place of Frankie Scigliano to protect the twine tent in recent weeks after not having seen much time in recent seasons. Meanwhile last night was the first ever Monday night playoff game, the final weekday to be covered. And though it seemed as New England would score more than three goals to start, they showed the Bandits too many open shots toward the end of the game in addition to a huge run spanning most of a quarter of play in the first half.

Division Finals (Game 1):

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Weekly Total: 1/2

Season Total: 53/81 (.654%)
Postseason Total 1/4 (.250%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Division Finals (Game 2):

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Division Finals (Game 1):
1. (1) BUFFALO - After down 3-0 early, it was virtually lights out.
2. (2) SASKATCHEWAN - They're fine so long as this doesn't become the Nashville/Anaheim series in the NHL (same applies for the Thieves).
3. (5) GEORGIA - Have a lot to look forward to in 2017 - remember the trade for Cozzy four years ago? The start of Herschel Walker 2.0 in picks.
4. (4) NEW ENGLAND - After a great start, they stalled.
5. (3) CALGARY - Genuinely disappointed given how they couldn't get it done at home.
6. (6) COLORADO - That Saskatchewan home and home defines the season, I think.
7. (7) VANCOUVER - Already spending more time than in Everett.
8. (8) TORONTO - Amazed at how much depth has fallen off.
9. (9) ROCHESTER - Still trying to figure out what happened.

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky

I Herd it Through the Grapevine

Expecting an NLL post today? Correct, however remember that the New England Black Wolves play at a casino and couldn't play till at least tonight for the first game of the division finals as indicated last week. The International League's Buffalo Bisons (the "Herd") happen to be owned by Bob (Jr.) and Mindy Rich of Rich Products, who also formerly owned the New York-Penn League's Jamestown Jammers (whose most recent logo was an anthropomorphic cluster of grapes holding a baseball bat), helps explain today's title as well as the below jersey color. As you will get to see on Wednesday, the numbers used on this uniform are the same of those of the other one to be discussed. The authenticity of this jersey is by the maker of that era in Bisons history, Jersey Express. This was towards the second half (circa 1998-2006) of the Cleveland Indians most recent Triple-A incarnation in Buffalo. In addition to the vested cut-off you'll be seeing, were several pre-promotional jerseys (something the Herd didn't do until the New York Mets replaced the Tribe as the parent club. There were white with black accompanied only by "Bisons" script, a solid black version of this mesh jersey with "Buffalo" script, and a plain red mesh jersey with a retro faux-back "bison in a baseball" uniform. The vests were white at home and the road grays you'll be soon viewing.

Of all the jerseys, this is the only one of which to feature the sliding buffalo from the primary logo, though further apart from the script and smaller. These make for great and breathable jerseys to wear not only to the ballpark, but for hot-but-windy days or cycling as well. It's the only team color uniform in the set, if you don't count black as a primary team color as it pertains to the Herd. Overall, a jersey that was a favorite alternate to wear, given how heavy the vests and white with sleeves were. I think the black mesh jersey was the best of all in this era, but there was a one game jersey in the Mets era that was blue pinstriped with "Buffalo" "rather than the normal "Bisons" in a Mets stylized font for one random afternoon game that they mentioned the new jersey in the Buffalo News earlier that week. But bygones are bygones, somewhere in storage at Coca-Cola Field in limited quantity as it was. Tomorrow we'll let you know how things unraveled and possibly in a week's time, how the west (and east) was won.

-Ricky

The Showroom on Union

Yesterday was a very strange event. A local business, the Airport Plaza Jewelers, had a jersey sale, yes that's right - a JERSEY SALE! It was the most bizarre thing to see an advertisement for throughout the last five days about jerseys at a jewelry store. Everybody was handed a door number and a special store policy card regarding jersey sales upon arrival and it was just racks with the jerseys on them tagged at the hangar with two of the several display cases with memorabilia. Pricing varied from $60 to $125 of what I had noticed. I didn't find many blank jerseys, or even of specific jerseys I have sought after, but I did find something that I didn't immediately expect. That I will start with, with Monday and Wednesday to explore the other two. Pictures will be available through the twitter handle.

That's right a replica Bob Lanier-era St. Bonaventure (Bona) men's basketball jersey. The jock tag at the front lower right has a mass replicated version of his signature. But the story behind making this purchase is more intriguing. My door number was 16 and it was on the first rack I ransacked. At that point I had hesitated and the subsequently had moved on with the risk of not getting back to it in time. As I am mid-way through the next rack, someone also pauses at it and proceeds to pick it up. I then continued going through the rest of the racks thinking nothing of it. By now I'm readying to got to the checkout counter and low and behold from distance I spotted it in the same spot as when I first found it. Same tag ID number and all. I took it before that rack was attended to by another prospective customer. Thus it is now in my possession. The idea of someone my age having this around these parts will put some upper middle-aged sports fans slightly off guard. But at least they can conclude that I can speak on behalf of the team that was Bona men's hoops. This and one other jersey in this purchase (Wednesday's post) are some of the few exceptions I have made in named/numbered jerseys. And I still have the other one in the mail I am anticipating by Friady. What a great week of posting ahead!

-Ricky

Sidewinding Through Tucson

As previously covered, the American Hockey League's Springfield Falcon's are moving to Tucson (two-shown if you don't want to upset the natives Tucsonans). However, our friends at HJC wanted to have a contest around this, and while it allows people to keep the nickname, I (having lived in Springfield) do not see that happening. While my selection kind of rips off the former Triple-A baseball Pacific Coast League team's name, there is a completely different brand identity to go along with it.

Behold hockey's version of the Tucson Sidewinders. Though I realized after it was designed there was a lot more "ripping-off" appearing elements, that is simply not the case other than the color change in "win" of the "Sidewinders" wordmark.  The colors have come from the Arizona state flag rather than the Falcons and the basic jersey elements from the parent club Arizona Coyotes of the NHL. The crest logo was planned to be an alternate but looked better as a primary than the one accompanying the wordmark logo, so I made appropriate decision changes. "Rattle City" was merely a promotional ploy that would need something better than something that looks like a beehive, dog toy, or something else I don't prefer to mention.

Back to the primary, It looks like another certain Major League Baseball team's old logo when in fact it isn't under two conditions: the star the sidewinder forms is in the opposite direction so it's head faces forward and second the sand tracks form a vaguely closed star rather than completely open (even the tracks kind of look like boomerangs at first glance). Now that all is squared away, I may have more jerseys in stock sooner than expected with further details on that tomorrow.

-Ricky

When the Saints Came Marching In: Southampton Style

While there might be a St. Kilda Aussie rules jumper I may warm up to, I have a two-fold reason as to liking the one of a particular Southampton FC change kit from the 95-969 Premier League season. First is that I just flat out think it is one of the best jerseys in the history of British soccer (let alone in the club's history though it isn't their primary colors) and second that it was during this season which I began to discover Arsenal FC, courtesy of the player who scored his first Arsenal goal against Saints (like three others before him) by the name of one Dennis Bergkamp. However this wan't the only jersey arrival.

Notice the checks woven into the fabric

(one of the best things about 90s Premier League jerseys).

Today, I happened to see what kind of deals might be at the Sabres Store inside of First Niagara Center only to discover that just the usual 10% off your entire purchase by using a First Niagara credit card. So that meant no end of season sales. I was curious which of the three Anaheim Ducks jerseys were re-stocked on the opposing team jersey section usually it was a mass quantity of three to five of one in various size with one of the other two to accompany it. Today it was only the home blacks (other times it was the orange alternates), so I did my due diligence and (finally) took it home with me.

The Southampton kit is just another example of the jersey diversity in the locker room in regards to the franchise it represents, of which we are currently two away from double digits and the third different sport among those eight. I am expecting one more early next week, so that will certainly be up here when it appears in the mail. Until then, you'll just have to guess.

-Ricky

2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Division Semifinals

I need to wait to hear from Graeme Perrow at NLL Fact of the Day's Twitter handle, but based on my research, this will be the first ever Monday playoff game (likely to scheduling conflicts at Mohegan Sun). There have been a few midweeks playoff games, but this will be historic in day of game only unless it turns out to be a great game. While I miss the authenticity of the Battle of Alberta, I don't miss that then-Edmonton didn't have that electric neon green in the color scheme.

Division Semis:

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Weekly Total: 0/2

Season Total: 53/81 (.654%)
Postseason Total 0/2 (.000%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Division Finals (Game 1):

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Division Semis:
1. (1) BUFFALO - Form could very well be the difference, but they do have a one loss cushion that they don't want to have to use.
2. (2) SASKATCHEWAN - It's the Battle of Alberta the Canadian Prairies after their wait.
3. (4) CALGARY - Will Calgary try to get a 2004 rematch with Bandits at home for potential game one?
4. (6) NEW ENGLAND - Can't risk taking Bandits to OT in either game especially at home.
5. (3) GEORGIA - Given how the regular season ended plus the overtime loss, Swarm glad they picked up the pace.
6. (5) COLORADO -
7. (7) VANCOUVER - Bomber is at best okay as mascot, still better than Calgary's honey badger (#BringBackDerricktheDriller).
8. (8) TORONTO - Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes?
9. (9) ROCHESTER - These were back-to-back-to-back champs a short while ago...

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky

The Toodler Years...

Despite the incorrect pronunciation of the word "toddler" at that age, it turned into the point we're at now - four years of Buffalo Nickel Graphics. It continues to amaze me that we're still here, despite the slight change in direction we've encountered here. I'd like to say some of last year's revelations are still going to be a while, but while we're picking up speed here again it will be nice to know the comfort of continued operation. Today is nothing short of what should be a normal day of celebrating something while in a relaxed state. Let's all do the same, hence the 5:55 am EDT posting. Enjoy it!

-Ricky

2016 NLL Picks and Power Rankings: Week 18

I can't believe it's not butter! The two unbeatable regular season teams of the east have fallen, and they can't get up (too soon?). Georgia looked nearly dead and buried despite still being in the race behind  Rochester by no more than two games at a given point. The latter half of the most recent home-stand gave them a boost in a hurry. The Wild West won't be the Wild west until more teams are in the division again and that may happen over the offseason, but Vancouver showed signs of significant improvement heading forward.

Week 18:

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Weekly Total: 5/6

Season Total: 53/81 (.654%)
*Away team is above the home team; underline below arrow indicates correct pick.

Division Semi:

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Week 18:
1. (1) BUFFALO - This is something special, new franchise record for regular season wins at 13, surpassing 1993 champs.
2. (3) SASKATCHEWAN - Vancouver slip up may haunt them a season finale in Banditland.
3. (4) GEORGIA - Heating up at the right time, next stop: Mohegan Sun.
4. (5) CALGARY - Still won instead of getting a poor performance out of the way.
5. (6) COLORADO - Wanting to get the Rush back may be around the corner.
6. (2) NEW ENGLAND - Bad way to enter playoffs - cold.
7. (7) VANCOUVER - It was just for pride, they don't even have that.
8. (8) TORONTO - Rock had it tight al the way; couldn't see through overtime.
9. (9) ROCHESTER - Thanks to last weeks loss, this is first time since 2008 Khawks or Rock ar out of playoffs.

View Brian Shanahan's picks on IL Indoor.

-Ricky