14 - Tuesday, April 17, 2007 Buffalo losing hope When it comes to losing, no sports city boasts more experience than Buffalo, N.Y. The Bills squandering a potential play-E off victory when E the Tennessee Titans executed their Home- Run Throwup - er, Home-Run STEPHANIE Throwback - in WRIGHT their 2000 Wild Card matchup. Wright on The Sabres Wrg on getting robbed arget whenBrettfHull's disputedovertime goal was upheld in the 1999 Stanley Cup finals. And of course, Scott Norwood's 47-yard field-goal attempt sailing wide right in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXV. It's as heartbreaking of a track record as there is in sports. But there's more to Buffalo sports fandom than our most infamous defeats. As a proud resident of the Buffalo-Niagara region, I decided to dedicate my final column to the unique attachment Buffalo sports fans like me have to our favorite teams. NBC's Tim Russert, himself a Buffalo native, summed up this rela- tionship perfectly in a Sports Illus- trated article on Sabres co-captain Chris Drury last week: "The Sabres and the Bills are the city. They give it life." He isn't exaggerating. Buffalo fans live and die with their teams in a way few outsiders can understand. Once a booming industrial center, Buffalo's popula- tion and economy have been sliding for decades. In 1950, Buffalo was the nation's 15th-largest city; by 2000, it had fallen to 57th. Along with snow and chicken wings, the Bills and Sabres provide my declining city with a national identity. I think they give us asense of per- sonal identity, too. On Feb. 2, 1994, Bills fans (i.e., the entire population of western POT S a The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Singer-time returns Chris Drury and the Sabres winning the Stanley Cup could be just what Buffalo needs. New York) were mourning the team's fourth-straight Super Bowl loss. In other words, the sun wasn't shining, children weren't playing and offices were full of employees standing dejectedly around water- coolers analyzing what went wrong. Despite pledges to "strive for five in '95" (yes, we were excited about the possibility of a fifth Super Bowl appearance), Buffalonians were depressed. To help us deal with the pain, The Buffalo News published a serious article in which local psychologists gave Bills fans advice about how to deal with the devastating defeat. One of the experts quoted is Charles Behling, teaches at Michi- gan and happens to be one of my favorite professors ever. Then a psy- chology professor at the University at Buffalo, Behling told Bills fans to "talk and ask themselves why they identify so strongly with the team." Even though his words weren't mean-spirited, readers were incensed. Behling once told me peo- ple flooded his office with letters and phone calls, some of which bor- dered on threats. As a relative new- comer to the city, he simply didn't understand what we were going through. If that doesn't prove how much Buffalo sports fans care about their teams, I don't know what could. For years I've argued that Buffalo has the longest-suffering fans in sports. The Bills won back-to-back AFL championships in 1964-65, but the city hasn't seen a title since (not counting the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons' three championships from 1998-2004, among other minor sports titles). I've never witnessed either of my favorite professional sports teams win a championship. For a passion- atesports fanfromasports-obsessed city, that's a lot of suffering. Three weeks ago, ESPN.com's Page 2 supported my stance by awarding the Bills first place in their Pain & Suffering rating. The Bills took the top prize thanks to Wide Right and the Music City Mir- acle, not to mention their back-to- back-to-back-to-back Super Bowl defeats. As crazy as it sounds, reading that article made me so proud to be a Buffalo sports fan. Even though we've lived through heartbreaking finishes, controver- sial calls and just plain embarrass- ing seasons, we've never given up hope - and we never will. That's why the Bills consistently rank among the NFL's top teams in terms of per capita TV ratings. That's why the Sabres place near the top of the NHL in merchandise sales despite hailing from a small- market city. That's why signs at the Buffalo- Niagara International Airport have read "Go Sabres!" all season long. And that's why thousands of Bills fans - my father and I among them - remained in Ralph Wilson Stadi- um during a near-blizzard in 2002 to watch the Bills destroy the hated Miami Dolphins, whom we taunted with a chorus of "Let It Snow." We still believe that someday the Bills and the Sabres will each bring home a championship. Even if the Sabres, who have given us our best shot at a title in almost a decade, fail to capture the Stanley Cup this season, Buffalo- nians will never stop cheering for their beloved teams. But it would be amazing to see Buffalo's losing streak finally come to an end. - Wright would like to thank everyone who made her three-plus years at the Daily so memorable, especially Jose, Amber, Katie, Matt, Mike and the entire sports staff. If you want to commiserate with her about being a long-suffering sports fan, she can be reached at smwr@umich.edu. Almost two years ago, fellow Daily Sports Editor Megan Kolodgy edited one of my first columns, a piece about the NHL's return from lockout. She told men she liked it, but suggested I cut out some of the "Singer-time" MATT - the extrane- ous personal SINGER anecdotes , . littering the Spitting Fire draft. It was good advice. During my tenure as a columnist, I've tried my best to express strong opinions without burdening readers with unnecessary autobiographical information. But for my last-ever column, I can't pass up the opportunity to indulge in alittle more Singer-time. Sorry, Meg. I came here four years ago from New York, lookingto create a niche at this enormous University. Within weeks, Daily Sports became just that. It suited me perfectly. It allowed me to showcase my writing, my incisiveness and my love for a good argument. It allowed me to expand my horizons, take risks and meet an incredible array of people. But perhaps most important, it allowed me to play a small but timeless role in the incredible uni- verse of Michigan athletics. To my dismay, Lloyd Carr was not and is not looking for a 130-pound wide receiver - even one who racked up an impressive 88 yards receiving and 10 special-teams tackles in an illustrious career as a Jericho High SchoolJayhawk. The Dailyallowed me into the world of Michigan sports, if only as an observer. And for that, this lifelong sports nut is forever grateful. And what a ride it's been: I learned to love, and hate, I-94. I jumped out of the car and into the middle of a cornfield in Le Roy, Illinois. I almost died - twice - thanks to my beatmates' poor driving on a hellish road trip back from Min- neapolis. (Don't worry, Mom, I insisted on driving for the rest of the season.) I drank. A lot. I sat in the Michigan section at this year's Michigan-Ohio State game, high-fiving third-string quarterback Jeff Kastl's dad and the girlfriends of Michigan line- men Jake Long and Adam Kraus after every big play. So much for unbiased journalism. I shared a defeated and emo- tional embrace outside the Horse- shoe with fellow reporter Kevin Wright after Michigan lost that game. Again, so much for unbiased journalism. I was on TV, twice. Once stand- ing behind Chad Henne in the Notre Dame tunnel, once standing next to Barry Alvarez on the Mich- igan Stadium sideline. After Michigan beat Notre Dame last season, I ran across Notre Dame Stadium's turf, osten- sibly to take notes on the players' celebration, but really because I was excited. I drove five hours in a row in the middle of the night after coveringa women's basketball loss at North- western. To her credit, beatmate Stephanie Wright kept the conver- sation going and didn't succumb to sleep until we hit Jackson. I got to know Bob "The Animal" Hunt and Matt "Groni" Venegoni. Enough said. I gave fellow reporter Scott Bell an under-press-row low five as Michigan locked up its first basket- ball win against Michigan State in three years. I danced to "Apache" in the first row of The Fish during the first- ever night game there. I spent hurdreds of hours in an asbestos-infested 420 Maynard St. building. I happily zoomed down a ramp in the Daily offices dozens of times before "The Man" tragically took the Razor scooter away. I drank thousands of 50-cent cherry cokes. I talked with Michigan athletes of all stripes - future NFL stars and bench players lucky to have a scholarship. I liked almost all of them. I survived a semester of cover- ing football while attending grad school. I sent nearly every word I wrote to a dozen or so family and friends, who gladly read everything, be it my men's tennis midweeks or col- umns that ended up on usatoday. cm. Few people are blessed with that type of support. I met a girl who's worth holding onto long after our stories in the bound volumes are tattered and yellow. I spit fire. I received dozens of angry e- mails from Ohio State fans after burying their school in a column. I received dozens more from Florida fans after I said they didn't deserve to be in the national cham- pionship (Oopst). I stopped indenting, shortened my sentences and stopped putting commas before the last "and" in a series of clauses. I stood on the Beaver Stadium field and watched as Chad Henne's beaming high school coach embraced his former pupil. I drank Margaritas on Santa Monica Pier. I took a walk around an empty and sun-splattered Rose Bowl an hour before fanswere let in. I'mnot sure I'll ever have a more spiritual experience. I laughed. I laughed and laughed and laughed at things I cannot and will not mention in this paper. I've done all that and so much more; my memories could easily fill this entire sports section. But it's time to move on, in one sense. I've moved up from women's track and field to football, from peon "For the Daily" writer into a senior sports editor. I've accom- plished everything I wanted to at this place; I've written amaz- ing stories, been amazing places, encountered amazing people and enjoyed amazing access to the best Michigan football season since 1997. Thatsaid, it's stillhard to believe it's over. This place will always be a part of me. - Singer can be reached at mattsing@umich.edu. Dusty road to Daily EARN MONEY AND PREPARE FOR YOUR FUTURE. t was just a job.. . My first Sunday afternoon on campus freshman year, most students were nursing r their Welcome Week hang- ' overs, while I I foundmyselfin an office filling' out tax forms. , I was about to assume a AMBER most-cov- COLVIN eted position and become A Touch of that girl who Dutch swipes cards at the CCRB entrance. I got hooked up with other oh-so-glamorous duties, too - manning the equipment room, changing towels, cleaning mats and otherthingsworthy of a pay- check. My favorite times from the hours spent in those sweaty halls were when all my work was done for the day, and I could sneak away to an empty racquetball court with a copy of that day's Daily. I'd sit on the ground, a dust mop next to me, and read the SportsMonday section cover to cover, learning all about Braylon Edwards and how fans should do "The Claw" on fourth down instead of "The Chop." Those Monday afternoons I spent among dust bunnies, hunched over anewspaperbrought me to something that was going to be so much more than just a job. It was goingto become my life. Sophomore year I finallygotthe guts to walk into the Student Pub- Do you like Sudoku puzzles? Bored during summer classes? Need something to read during the lazy days of summer? lications Building and went home giddy, bragging to my roommates that I knew what would be on the front page the next day. That novelty wore offfast,when sources didn't call back, editors were tough and the real hard work set in. Pre-med students have their so-called "weeding" classes, but the entire Daily experience is a weeding process. Make it to the end, and you probably deserve a badge of honor. Instead, you get a goodbye column. So that's what I'm here to do: sayfarewell, lookbackonmythree years at the Daily and impart some sort of wisdom as I do it. I'll gladly bid adieu to coming home to a pitch-black house way too late at night (which inevita- bly led to dozing off in class the next day). Lump that in with the ridiculous joke of a paycheck, an audience that is never pleased and computers that always seem to freeze just when you're almost done with the page. On the other hand, I'll be sad to leave my co-workers who doubled as road-trip companions. I'll miss the access to world-class athletes and coaches who were usually pretty fun to talk to. And the whole writing about sports and having people read it thing? That's not going to be easy to give up either, (even if most peo- ple did just rip out the crossword, toss the paper on the ground and leave a nice boot print on it after- ward - yeah, I saw that). These three years were always full of tough times, and, in the end, they were always worth it. The hockey knowledge I gained from talking to Michigan coach Red Berenson on a daily basis is something I consider priceless. Anytime I sat in on practice at Yost Ice Arena, I felt lucky. I had oddly parent-like proud moments when I saw a young writer or edi- tor start to bloom into something People talk about having moments in the press box where you smile and think about how happy you are to have this as your job. It was never so for me. Like I said, it became my life. And I couldn't be happier that it did. As for wisdom, I don't have much other than never to lose sight of that girl curled up in the corner of a racquetball court pouring over pages. That's where my love for sports journalism lies, and I hope that after I graduate that reader still exists somewhere on campus - dedicated, listening, learning and always fascinated. And hopefully, that person will know that working for the Daily could never be just a job. - Colvin would like to thank all her past beatmates, the Entourage and the Buttercup, her family, the CCRB for employing her for four years and anyone who hires her in the future. She can be reached at ambermco@umich.edu. I I BRANCH CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE Imagine building a strong resume with solid professional experience before you graduate. At National City, we provide the opportunity to learn and grow and can start you on your path to professional success. Take advantage of our encouraging and educational work environment. And with our many convenient branch locations, you won't have far to travel. Discover how our part time works for you. 5~ U C THEN CHECK OUT THE SUMMER DAILY! Published every Monday throughout both sprig and summer terms, except on May t 'and May 29". Pick one up at any of the 27 drop spots around campus. Don't forget to check out the Rotating Tap .7 for summer specials at your favorite bars, the Entertainment Page for restaurant and entertainment specials, and the crossword puzzle. Look for our Take-out/Delivery Page for the best take-out restaurants in Ann Arbor, which will be published in our FIRST issue on May I! Need another reason to pick up The Summer Daily? We will be holding a fake ad contest and giving out cool prizes all summer. Just flip through and find the advertisement that you think WE put in there, and send us an e-mail! www.michigandaily.com Let's get to work. Visit NationalCity.com/experience77 today. Nationalm City. NationalCity.com 02007, National City Corporation. National City Corporation subsidiaries and member banks are Equal Opportunity Employers. National City does not hire individuals in F-1 or J-1 status for trainee positions. National City requires candidates to submit to pre-employment drug screening.