ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With hundreds of pictures and mementos on display honouring Buffalo Bills late owner Ralph Wilson, Bruce Smith couldnt resist bringing one more on Saturday. The Hall of Fame defensive end pulled out a photo taken the day he signed his rookie contract in 1985. The picture showed Wilson with his hands across his face as if he were praying. "He has that worried look on his face, like, Lord knows, I hope Im not wasting this draft pick on this chubby kid from Norfolk, Va.," Smith said, laughing. "I thought it would be befitting I brought this, and showed some of the players. And they got a big laugh out of it." "That," said Smith, who became the NFLs career leader in sacks, "is one of my special memories." There were many during a public remembrance celebrating the 95-year-old Hall of Fame owners life. With Frank Sinatra -- Wilsons favourite -- playing over the loudspeakers, and an array of photos, trophies and souvenirs spread throughout the teams practice facility, former and current players, employees and thousands of fans paid their respects to the teams founder, who died at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., on March 25. "The Bills are more than just a football team. Theyre family," said Matt Guarino, a 20-year season-ticket holder. "So we came to pay our respects just like we would any friend and any family member." The remembrance took place a week after a private funeral service was held in Detroit. The mood on Saturday was festive. Under grey cloudy skies and with a cold brisk wind blowing off nearby Lake Erie, a long line of fans snaked into the parking lot once the doors opened. Many wore team jerseys and posed for pictures in front of the Wilson memorabilia. The displays circled the fieldhouse, and featured many significant moments of Wilsons life: From childhood pictures to the medals he earned serving in the Navy during World War II, and photos of Wilson with his fellow American Football League founding owners. There was a painting of Wilson watching the Bills 1993 Super Bowl loss. The franchises two AFL championship trophies were displayed, as was Wilsons Pro Football Hall of Fame bust and gold jacket. In the middle of the field, the Bills recreated the layout of Wilsons office. There was a team helmet on the coffee table, press releases on his desk, as well as a picture of him and his wife Mary. And Mary Wilson was on hand. Standing near a guestbook area, she greeted fans, shared stories, signed autographs and posed for pictures. "He was a great sportsman," Wilson told one fan. "He loved competition. And thats why we got along so well. I was like that, too." In a statement released by the team, she thanked people "for their tremendous outpouring of love for Ralph." "Before he passed, he told me that he wanted people to celebrate his life after he was gone. He wasnt big on tears," she said. "Ralph most likely would have offered a funny quip about todays event. But at the same time, he would have been profoundly touched by the fans outpouring of emotion." Mary Wilson has taken over as the Bills controlling owner, a role she will maintain until the franchise is sold. Ralph Wilson expressed no interest of leaving the team to his surviving family members. The sale could take place within a year, opening the possibility the Bills could relocate. "Keeping this team here meant a lot to me," said Rich Izydorczak, whos had season tickets for 41 years. "And I hope it stays this way for a long time to come." Kathleen Hubbard, a Bills cheerleader in the early 1970s, brought a picture of Wilson posing with her and other cheerleaders on the field. A business not far from the stadium flashed the message, "You will be missed Ralph Wilson Jr.," on its electronic sign. Former Bills tight end Kevin Everett, in Buffalo for another event, made sure to show up to honour Wilson. Everett has recovered since being nearly paralyzed after sustaining a severe neck injury during the 2007 season opener. Part of his recovery was aided by the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a foundation which Wilson supported with a $1 million donation before Everett was hurt. "I thank God for his work that everything paid off to help benefit one of his players," Everett said. "He has a big heart. I thank God for what he did." . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. . The NFLs Defensive Rookie of the Year will be named at the NFL Honours Award show on February 1. The 23-year-old 2013 second-rounder out of Oregon becomes the third Bills linebacker to win the honour after Jim Haslett (1979) and Shane Conlan (1987.
http://www.sabresauthority.com/authenti ... -jersey/.C. - Goodyear has warned teams that increased speeds at Charlotte Motor Speedway will put a heavy emphasis on the right front tires in Saturday nights race a€” a potentially key development for drivers trying to advance in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. .com) - Real Madrid claimed its 16th consecutive victory across all competitions on Saturday after earning a 2-1 win over Malaga at the Estadio La Rosaleda. .C. -- Ryan Sproul scored the winner late in double overtime to lift the Grand Rapids Griffins to a 2-1 win over the Abbotsford Heat on Friday in Game 1 of their American Hockey League playoff series.Orlando, FL (SportsNetwork.com) - Perry Ellis had 17 points and nine rebounds as No. 11 Kansas defeated 20th-ranked Michigan State 61-56 on Sunday in the championship game of the Orlando Classic. The Spartans missed eight straight tries from beyond the arc after starting 5- of-7 before Travis Trice pulled up from the left wing in transition and nailed a 3-pointer to pull them within 59-56 with 1:36 remaining. Frank Mason III turned the ball over at the other end, but Branden Dawson was off the mark on a jumper and then failed to convert a left-handed layup after corralling his own miss. Jamari Traylor made two free throws with 30 seconds left and Trice was unable to connect from deep down the other end of the floor to seal the outcome. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk netted 11 points, while Mason added 10 points, 10 boards and five assists for the Jayhawks (5-1), who beat Michigan State for the first time since 2003. Kansas has won four straight since its 72-40 loss to Kentucky on Nov. 18. Denzel Valentine and Travis Trice scored 14 points apiece for Michigan State ((5-2), which had its four-game winning streak snapped.dddddddddddd The Spartans shot just 24.2 percent (8-of-33) in the second half and missed 10 consecutive shots at one point in the final 20 minutes. Kansas went on a 10-0 run during the early stages of the second half to seize control. Five different players scored during the surge, which was capped on a Landen Lucas layup for a 45-38 Kansas advantage with 13:59 to play. Two Trice foul shots cut the deficit to 47-44 midway through the half, but Kansas used a 7-2 spurt that Cliff Alexander finished that off with a three- point play to take a 56-48 advantage, its largest of the game. Earlier, MSU jumped out to a 23-16 lead prior to a 7-0 Kansas swing to tie it and a Mykhailiuk trey at the first half horn pulled the Jayhawks within 36-35 heading into the break. Game Notes Michigan State had won three of the last four meetings since Jayhawks coach Bill Self arrived at Kansas, including a 67-64 win in the 2012 Champions Classic ... Kansas outrebounded MSU 44-36. ' ' '
