Monday, May 15, 2006
The funny thing about Doug Flutie, who announced his retirement today, is that nobody in the NFL could ever quite figure out how to use him. He was effective as a member of the Bills, there is no question about it, but the coaching staff was sure that Rob Johnson was the long-term answer. They forced Flutie out, a classic example of "Nobody ever got fired for buying IBM" thinking, and what we got was Homerun Throwback, and a long arid stretch that we are not through yet. I don't think it would be a stretch to say that Flutie was the last legitimate sports star we've had in Buffalo. You might argue Dominik Hasek, and maybe so, but your grandma didn't go out and buy a box of cereal with the Dominator's picture on it. Everyone in town bought at least one box of Flutie Flakes. Is the turkey sub at Wegman's still called Flutie's Favorite?
He had an odd career, and was not above playing clubhouse politics, but he was a hell of an athlete, who came to Buffalo just when we needed someone to strike a spark. If I had a vote, I'd say there is a case to be made for a bust at Canton-- you don't hang on as long as he did, in three different leagues, unless you can play.
He had an odd career, and was not above playing clubhouse politics, but he was a hell of an athlete, who came to Buffalo just when we needed someone to strike a spark. If I had a vote, I'd say there is a case to be made for a bust at Canton-- you don't hang on as long as he did, in three different leagues, unless you can play.
// posted by Bill @ 3:21 PM 
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