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Scorecard: The Week's Winners & Losers

The Week's Winners & Losers

Keepin' It G-Rated

The Buffalo Bisons named Internet sensation Wally Backman, famous for his epic, profanity-laced tirade during a game in 2005, their new manager on Nov. 17. If you haven’t seen it yet, Google it now. In addition to throwing 22 bats and a bucket of balls on the field, Backman dropped a host of seriously profane gems.

Breaking Ranks

Congresswoman Kathy Hochul pulled a maverick on Nov. 19, breaking from Democractic Party ranks to vote for a balanced budget amendment. Looks like somebody just woke up to the fact that they represent a conservative district which by grace of god—and snap-happy Chris Lee—fell into her hands.

Wrist Cutting - Football Style

The Buffalo Bills played quite possibly their worst game in recent memory, losing to Miami 35-8 on Nov. 20 and getting blown out in bumbling fashion for a third consecutive week. It got so bad, at one point it was actually kinda fun in a masochistic “how can this team possibly embarass itself further” sort of way.

Bad Karma

While it’s never good to hear 90 people will lose their jobs, it’s hard not to feel the hand of karma was at work here. The foreclosure firm Steven J. Baum—which gained notoriety after its Halloween party mocking the homeless came to light—announced on Nov. 21 they will shutter their Amherst doors, citing loss of business.

Transit Safety

In a move sure to affect the personal security of riders, last week the NFTA announced that they will lay off 20% of transit police to help close a $15 million deficit. However, with their track record, it is yet to be determined whether this move would make riders more or less at risk of catching a beating.





By the numbers...

167

Millions of dollars in road and bridge work mistakenly omitted from budgets across Western New York due to a mathematical error in 2008-2009 by the state Department of Transportation. State Senator Tim Kennedy claims the region has missed out on an estimated $426 million in economic benefit as a result of the error.

3

Years since the last tenant, Save-A-Lot, left Buffalo’s Central Park Plaza. Since then, the vacant shopping plaza has been a haven for drugs, decay and even dog-fighting. On Nov. 22 NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a settlement with the owners to rehab and sell the 29-acre property and bar them from owning property in Buffalo again.

8.2

Percent chance that the 5-5 Buffalo Bills will make the playoffs this year according to sportsclubstats.com. The chances of breaking a 11-year playoff drought—currently tied for longest in the league—peaked at 79 percent following their 23-0 week eight victory over Washington. Since then the team has lost three straight.


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