When Buffalo Stood Atop the Sports World

Sports Takeby MIKE LINDSLEY

I recently caught-up with longtime journalist Sal Maiorana from the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle to chat about his new book, “When Buffalo Stood Atop the Sports World.” Sal has covered the Buffalo Bills and the Buffalo sports scene for a number of years. The book itself? Interesting, insightful and yes, at one point, Buffalo was king in sports. Wait…WHAT? How? Let’s dive-in to a Q and A with Sal. ML: So, when was Buffalo really “atop” the sports world? SM: It was certainly brief, but between Nov. 4-10 in 1974, the Bills, Sabres and Braves were all in sole possession of first place in their respective leagues. Those were the only six days that this occurred during the eight years Buffalo had three major-league teams. That’s the literal answer to the question, but the reason I wrote the book is because in the middle of the 1970s, basically the fall of 1973 through the spring of 1976, all three teams were winning, they were exciting, they each had a superstar player with O.J. Simpson playing for the Bills, Gilbert Perreault with the Sabres, and Bob McAdoo with the Braves. Buffalo never had it any better. ML: When did you get the idea for this book and how did it all come together? SM: This was a book I’ve wanted to write for quite some time, especially as the playoff droughts for the Bills and the Sabres grew in length in the 2010s. There was so much losing, so much sports despair, and I wanted to go back to a happier time when Buffalo’s teams actually played in the postseason. Plus, as I was born in 1962, this was the beginning of my true fandom and those years, those teams, stirred so many memories for me. ML: Could things get any uglier for the current Buffalo Sabres? SM: Well, remember, they were once bankrupt and on the verge of leaving Buffalo before being rescued by Rochester billionaire Tom Golisano, so I guess it could theoretically be worse. But right now, the on-ice product is dismal and unless they strike gold with their offseason moves, I don’t see it getting too much better. I know it’s tough to turn around hockey teams quickly, but there’s no excuse for a decade of incompetence. ML: The old Aud was a special place to watch hockey/sports/concerts. Your memories? SM: I feel like I grew up in that building because I saw so many Sabres and Braves games there, not to mention countless concerts. It was an old-fashioned arena that had almost no frills, and the way it was built, the seats were right on top of the action and it could get really get raucous in there when the Braves and Sabres were winning.

My fondest memory as a kid of an individual game was the 1975 NBA playoffs when the Braves beat the Bullets in Game 4 of their series and McAdoo scored 50 points. What a night. And then as a sports writer, I went on to cover dozens and dozens of Sabres games both when I was still in college working for The Associated Press and then when I started working for the Democrat and Chronicle. ML: What do you hope people say about this book when they get done with it?

SM: Man, that was a good time to be alive and to be a sports fan in Buffalo. And what I really want is to hopefully have readers learn something they didn’t already know about the history of all three franchises. And then, of course, I hope they recommend it to all their family and friends! ML: Buffalo Bills Mount Rushmore? SM: Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, O.J. Simpson, Thurman Thomas.

ML: Buffalo Sabres Mount Rushmore? SM: Gilbert Perreault, Dominik Hasek, Rick Martin, Lindy Ruff (player and coach). ML: Do you believe in the current Buffalo Bills regime and what’s next in terms of the accomplishment list? SM: Yes, I do like what Sean McDermott and Brandon Beane are doing in Buffalo. Not only are they changing the culture and running the organization the way it’s supposed to be run, but they are making smart personnel decisions which is the key to everything. Winning solves a lot of problems and without good players, you don’t win. There’s no reason why the Bills can’t get into a position where they’re contending for a playoff berth every year, and the next step is to start winning playoff games. ML: Describe the sports town of Buffalo in one word. SM: Patient. ML: Better decade of Buffalo sports from players to atmospheres to success to everything else, 1970’s or 1990’s? SM: Tough call, but the Bills were good for the entire decade, and they gave us four Super Bowl appearances. Plus, the Sabres had some great years as well including a Stanley Cup Finals appearance, so I’d have to go with the 1990s. ML: Sal, pleasure to do this and congrats on your book. I have always found your writing to be terrific and you set the standard in the business. Keep at it and I really appreciate it. SM: Mike, always a pleasure, and thanks for the forum. Buy Sal’s book here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B085K6R2TR/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0. Mike Lindsley has been in sports media for 20 years. He is the host of the ML Sports Platter Podcast. Download and subscribe today on Google Podcasts, Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Follow him on Twitter @MikeLSports. Bob McAdoo with the Buffalo Braves OJ Simpson for the Buffalo Bills Gilbert Perreault with the Buffalo Sabres