"Does never really mean never?", asked the US Customs and Border Patrol officer at the Queenston Lewiston bridge just before 9am yesterday. This came after he had asked us four separate times if either of us had ever been arrested in Canada or in the United States. After scanning our passports and confirming our destination, he casually told us that he had one more question, the answer to which he didn't really care about, as long as neither of us lied. I was certain that the formal part of our discussion was over and that he was about to ask us if we were confident that the Bills offensive line was going to be able to handle to Dolphins pass rush or perhaps our best guess on how many false start penalties the crowd noise would cause the Dolphins offence. Nope. He wanted to know - although he claimed not to care what the answer was - about the business of being arrested. This, I believe, was not done due to any real suspicion on his part that either of us had ever been arrested but as part of a larger strategy to take travelers out of their comfort zone by asking unexpected questions and evaluating responses. I guess we seemed believable on the fourth try so he graciously allowed us entry to the United States. I was going to ask him if he wanted to go to the San Diego game next week but decided that he might find that to be an odd question. And I know that odd questions can be a little disconcerting.
Jim Kelly was tearing up a little as he paid tribute to the late Ralph Wilson and thanked the fans for their well-wishes on his cancer recovery in a pre-game ceremony. He looked a little rough, a little pale and a little thin but spoke well and from the heart. His speech was not too long, not too sappy - just about right. Then, he concluded by declaring that it was time to squish the fish. The crowd erupted and remained as loud as I've ever heard throughout the game. Terry Pegula was likely in attendance but did not appear publicly as NFL approval of his ownership bid is still required. That will come next month at the NFL owners meeting which will take place at the site of Pegula's newest fracking site in rural Pennsylvania. The owners and their beleaguered Commissioner will bring their own water, apparently, as they all know about the dangers that fracking poses to ground and drinking water. These guys are smart.
One of the WGR radio guys said that the Bills best free agent off-season signing was former Lions head coach and defensive specialist, Jim Schwartz. Contrary to some rumours, Jim Harbaugh was NOT the first to shake his hand on being appointed Bills Defensive Coordinator. But Bills fans should be thankful that he's here because the defense was good last week in Chicago and great yesterday against the Dolphins who had put up 33 points in their first game against the Patriots. All three levels of the Bills defence were solid yesterday. I would have given a game ball to Corey Graham who had another big day pass defending.
Yesterday was a great day to be a Buffalo Bills fan and to be at Ralph Wilson Stadium. After much effort, a more subdued and civilized tailgating experience has been established, the weather was perfect, my new seats are excellent (as are the fine Buffalo people who sit nearby), the team performed well in all three phases, the fish were properly squished and the quarterback looks confident and comfortable in what has been a limited role through the first 12% of the season.
The San Diego Chargers come to Orchard Park next week. I'm trying to make sure that the same border guard is on duty next Sunday and I'll do my best not to get arrested anywhere this week. I just don't think he'd appreciate me changing my story - even if it was true.
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