Talking Buffalo

On this episode of the Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran chats with recurring guest Jeff Boyd from the 716 Sports Podcast and Buffalo Twenty about the Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres and several other topics ranked on the Moran-Alytics Podcast Interest Meter.

On the Bills side of things the guys discuss a Buffalo-based poll with Tom Brady and Josh Allen with ridiculous results, the signing of former All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman on Monday and a look into free agency, including one pending free agent both guys are convinced are leaving and one who may surprise many and end up re-signing.

They also talk plenty of Sabres, including what now appears to be a formality that general manager Jason Botterill’s days are numbered, a discussion on if head coach Ralph Krueger deserves to stay on board with a new general manager and the frustration of every fan not to mention Jack Eichel himself that his franchise center caliber play is being rotted away for five years running.

The segment finishes with a little Moran-Alytics Interest meter where Jeff rates Lebron James’ big weekend, Brady’s next destination choice coming soon, Dak Prescott continuing to turn down huge money, the UB Bulls men’s team surprising first round loss and the rising consequence of the Coronavirus scare.

You can follow Jeff on Twitter @JeffBoyd716.  Be sure to check out both the 716 Sports Podcast as well as Buffalo Twenty, which covers various Buffalo sporting events and happenings over the past 20 years.

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran presents a new segment that’ll be featured from time to time titled “Twelve Topic Friday.”

Moran hits on a dozen different topics, some submitted by listeners.  Among them are several Buffalo Bills items, including the plan on tight end, if Frank Gore should be brought back, prioritizing their own free agents and veteran extensions, Josh Allen’s third year being make or break, some free agent fits and if the Bills should try to move up from pick No. 22 in the April’s NFL draft.

He also gets saucy when discussing if Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill deserves to return for a fourth season and has thoughts on Tom Brady’s destination, baseball season starting, his favorite podcasts, why he rarely if ever talks about politics on the show and ends with the five businesses he most wishes he could take with him from Buffalo to Florida.

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this milestone 200th episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran is joined by a special guest, Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz.

If you’re here for straight political talk you’ve come to the wrong place.  However, Patrick inquires on how Mark’s political aspirations began and what the journey was like getting to Erie County’s highest-ranking government title.  Mark grew up in Lackawanna the son of a steel worker and a nurse the typical neighborhood kid who simply loved playing sports. A graduate of Lackawanna High School and then the University at Buffalo, Mark actually worked at Sears for a number of years before going to law school and practicing law before successfully running for his first political office, County Comptroller.

There’s plenty of sports talk to be had throughout the chat.  Mark’s a lifelong Los Angeles Dodgers fan and has hot takes on the Houston Astros being caught cheating.  Mark strongly asserts the Astros, who beat his beloved Dodgers for the World Series title in 2017 should be stripped of their championship and individual players deserve to get punished as well.

They also talk plenty of hockey and golf, two sports Mark still actively plays.

The chat then turns towards a book he published late last year, “Beyond the X’s and O’s: Keeping the Bills in Buffalo.” The book chronicles the negotiation between the franchise, Erie County and the state of New York that ultimately resulted in a new lease to keep the team from leaving.   Mark discusses why he decided to write the book and gives insight to some of its details, including the urgency and pressure of getting a lease deal done while Bills owner Ralph Wilson was still alive.

He also has candid thoughts on the Bills potentially getting a new stadium versus renovating the one they already have in Orchard Park.

Of course, like each feature interview on the podcast it ends with the Mini-Lightning Round and we learn a few more fun facts about Mark, including him formerly being in a band and three historic figures he’d love to have dinner with.

It’s a great conversation with just the second three-term Erie County Executive and Mark turns out to be a really personable, down to earth guy. Good stuff!

You can follow Mark on Twitter @MarkPoloncarz and you can buys his book about keeping the Bills in Buffalo by clicking here.

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran has a chat with Ryan Talbot, Buffalo Bills reporter at NYup.com about all things football—and a little bit of wrestling.

The guys discuss the NFL combine that just concluded and Ryan points out a handful of players he was most impressed by.  They spend plenty of time addressing some of the top receiver prospects, as it’s widely assumed the Buffalo Bills will be adding one sometime early in the draft.

Speaking of, Ryan goes over his mock draft that was just published on Monday.  He explains in detail what made him choose a position with the first Bills pick most wouldn’t project before going wide receiver, cornerback and edge rusher with his next three.

They then turn their attention to talking about the current roster and the guys break down what pending free agents they think will be coming and going.  They also each project a few players they think would be excellent fits for the Bills in free agency.

They wrap with each taking a stab at what team Tom Brady will land with, Ryan gives his thoughts about a potential 17-game schedule and they even spend a few minutes talking WWE.

You can follow Ryan on Twitter @RyanTalbotBills and of course check out NYup.com for both his and colleague Matt Parrino’s excellent Bills coverage.

Before wrapping up the episode Patrick debuts a new segment called Morandom Thoughts, takes of his on various topics.  Today Patrick hits on the Buffalo Sabres, personal overreactions from fans on news that Jerry Sullivan is going to WIVB-TV and marveling at how elite Lebron James is still playing in his 17th season.

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran talks with Buffalo Sabres beat writer for The Athletic, Joe Yerdon about the moves the Sabres did and didn’t make on Monday’s NHL trade deadline and much more.

The trade deadline passed with the Sabres making a pair of moves: acquiring Wayne Simmonds from New Jersey for a 2021 fifth-round pick and trading Connor Sheary and Evan Rodriques to Pittsburgh in exchange for 24-year old forward Dominik Kahun.   Joe breaks down both trades and offers insight into what general manager Jason Botterill’s mindset probably is with the deals.

The guys also discuss why some other moves weren’t made, what Rasmus Ristolainen’s future with the organization may be, why it took so long for resolution with disgruntled defenseman Zach Bogosian, if Joe thinks Botterill’s job is safe after the season and much more.

They also spend a few minutes at the top learning why Joe became a Detroit Lions fan and how Patrick is blowing a golden opportunity in Florida to see plenty of baseball. Joe’s a great writer, a great dude and it’s fourth time on the podcast—easily one of Patrick’s favorite people to chat with.

Follow Joe on Twitter @JoeYerdon and be sure to subscribe to The Athletic for premium Buffalo Bills and Sabres news from some of the best writers in the industry as well as national sports coverage and much more.

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick is joined by recurring guest and buddy Joe from NYC to discuss all things Buffalo sports and media as well as answer questions via a Twitter mailbag from listeners.

The extended segment includes the guys talking about NFL playoff expansion and a potential 17-game regular season schedule. Joe has an idea for the scheduling Patrick doesn’t think will fly while also getting salty about the potential of several neutral site games that would likely be played on foreign soil.

As the conversation turns to hockey, the guys discuss how the end of the season also needs to be the end of the road for Buffalo Sabres general manager Jason Botterill as frustration continues to mount that the organization is no closer to producing a contender now than it was three years ago when he took over.

Also included is a Twitter mailbag—questions from listeners that leads to extensive conversations about online dating and a hypothetical Wrestlemania card featuring all matches between members of the Buffalo sports media.

Speaking of, they also discuss last week’s podcast that saw the guys drop verbal hammers on AP sports writer John Wawrow and Patrick reveals his newfound anxiety now that his daughter has left for Air Force boot camp.

All this and plenty (plenty) more.

You can follow Joe on Twitter @BuffaloWins.  Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this milestone episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran has an interview with popular longtime WGR-550 sports talk radio host, Chris “Bulldog” Parker on a wide variety of topics.

This episode marks the two-year anniversary since the launch of the Moran-Alytics Podcast and Patrick marks the occasion with a fun and notable guest.

They talk Bulldog growing up in West Seneca (suburb of Buffalo), New York a fan of all sports, particularly hockey.  While most who end up working in the media are locked in on chasing the profession at a young age, Bulldog was admittedly “directionless” during his younger years.  He got into the food service business after high school and moved away from Buffalo for a couple of years before coming back to Buffalo State College in effort to chase broadcasting.

Bulldog worked at a pizzeria while securing his first part-time gig at WBEN.  As he got better and more popular with the audience it became a full-time role and when Entercom purchased WGR and turned WBEN into an all-news station, Bulldog went to WGR.  He originally was on-air in the mornings until slotting into weekday afternoons with Mike Schopp—a partnership formed in 2003 still rolling on today.

Bulldog talks about working with Schopp and their chemistry, the bond between several station coworkers, how he handles unruly callers and gives his thoughts on being lumped into a generality when people criticize the radio station.

He also discusses his son, Owen, a talented high school goaltender as well as why he lives in North Buffalo and his passion for music. It’s a well-rounded chat with a guy Patrick’s been a fan of for many years.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @BulldogWGR and of course check him out along with Mike Schoop on weekday afternoons (starting at 3pm) on WGR-550.

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran has a chat with WKBW-TV News 7 anchor Ashley Rowe on a variety of topics spanning her life and career.

Ashley was technically born in Los Angeles but raised in Ontario, Canada where she lived close enough to Western New York to watch Buffalo television stations.  Journalism is in her DNA — her grandfather a journalist and father a well-known Canadian documentary filmmaker.  Ashley went to college in Canada and broke into the business via radio before becoming a TV reporter and anchor in Toronto.

She had previously been to Buffalo to cover Black Friday shopping events and the Blizzard of 2014. She made Buffalo her permanent home in early 2016 after accepting the job at WKBW-TV.  She spends time talking about the entire journey and process.

Ashley also discusses how she feels about living in Buffalo, a few sports-related stories she’s done before her and Patrick bone over a favorite pizza place. As always, the interview wraps with the Mini-Lightning Round, where we learn a ton of Ashley Rowe fun facts.

You can follow Ashley on Twitter @AshleyRoweWKBW and of course, see her on-air at WKBW-TV.

After that Patrick’s joined by Joe (@BuffaloWins) for another segment of “The Run-In With Joe.”  Today the guys make a little small talk before digging into the Buffalo Sabres. They at times angrily discuss how poorly the organization has been run and that it’s finally time to make some changes.  Patrick and Joe are also blunt if not critical on the methods some fans are going about asking for it.

They also talk some local Buffalo sports media stuff and Patrick uncharacteristically goes on a tirade about one local AP sportswriter before they finish with a discussion on what a now former local sports talk show host should do to give his upcoming podcast a better chance to succeed.

Far and away the saltiest Run-In With Joe segment ever on this podcast!

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran has a chat with TV host/reporter and owner of his own hugely popular YouTube channel, Chris Van Vliet on a wide variety of topics.

In a chat designed to give his legions of fans opportunity to learn more about him, Chris discusses growing up in Canada and what first had him fall in love with professional wrestling and also what peaked his desire to ultimately become a TV person.

His journey led him to Cleveland, where in 2011 he won Cosmopolitan Magazine’s Bachelor of the Year.  He eventually went to Miami in early 2015 as a host for the popular Deco Drive show. It was there he interviewed many of today’s biggest stars in Hollywood, including chats with Denzell Washington, Ben Affleck, Dwayne Johnson and several A-listers.  Chris remembers a few of them and the famous interview he had with actresses Leslie Mann and Dakota Johnson in 2016 that saw them flirt with him and end up going viral on the internet.

They also discuss his insanely popular YouTube channel and some of the most memorable interviews he’s had with literally dozens of professional wrestlers over the past few years, including his personal favorites.

They end with this podcast’s traditional Mini-Lightning round to find out even more about Chris, including what Neil Diamond song he could rock, what 80’s movie is his most re-watchable flick and what three celebrities he’d most like to have over for dinner.  It’s a great interview with one of the most accomplished and nicest people in the business today.

You can follow Chris on Twitter @ChrisVanVliet and of course subscribe to his YouTube Channel, which features regular sit down interviews with many of the biggest stars in professional wrestling today as well as clips from past interviews with some of Hollywood’s most famous actors.

Follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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On this episode of the future award-winning Moran-Alytics Podcast, Patrick Moran has a chat with WKBW-TV Buffalo channel 7 sports reporter Adam Unger about his life and career to this point.

Unger’s one of the youngest full-time members of the mainstream Buffalo sports media at just 22 years old. He talks about growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania a fan of a very eclectic combination of professional sports teams. He also remembers realizing before he even became a teenager that sports broadcasting was something he wanted to do with his life.

He’d follow in both his parents footsteps by going to Syracuse for college.  Adam discusses why he ultimately went there and how it would go onto benefit him as well as an internship in Ohio before the opportunity to work in Buffalo came about.

Speaking of, they discuss how the WKBW job came into play and if Adam accepting the role was an easy decision.  He also talks about living in the Elmwood Village, his take on Buffalo since moving there in June of last year, his favorite wing spots so far and much more.

Of course, they finish with the traditional mini-lightning round and we learn tons of fun facts about Adam, including both guys crushing on an actress and Adam being a pretty accomplished drummer.

You can follow Adam on Twitter @AdamUnger_7 and of course check out his work at WKBW-TV.

Before the interview Patrick spends a few minutes discussing the unveiling of his latest chicken wing power rankings, that are now also tiered into seven groups. You can read that post here and follow Patrick on Twitter @PatMoranTweets.

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