Random Thoughts: Bills raise ticket prices…Marshawn Lynch on the trade block?…Olympic hockey getting bumped…and more

-So what does missing the playoffs for the 10th straight season and failing to lure in a big named coach get you? Well, Mediocrity is going to cost you. The Buffalo Bills have decided to raise season ticket prices (Yes, I know, I’m very late with talking about this). Tickets will be going up $2 to $10 per game overall. Even though we can all come to an agreement that paying more for a product kind of stinks, this is a move long overdue. Bills tickets for the last few years have been the cheapest in the NFL.

More importantly, they are a product (Crappy one at that) that is in demand. I would always snicker when hearing fans mention how the Bills are always looking for a marketing tool (T.O.) to draw fans to the stadium. Please…as long as they are offering tailgating prior to games, fans will keep on coming until the mayflower trucks move the team to LA or Toronto. Even if the team is lousy, football is a way of life in Buffalo and that will never change.

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The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle is reporting that the Bills will probably trade Marshawn Lynch in the offseason. Lynch trade talks shouldn’t surprise Bills fans. I wrote during the preseason that it wouldn’t shock me if Fred Jackson gained the starting job after Lynch returned from his three game suspension. Jackson flourished during the first three games of the season, and upon Lynch’s return to the line-up, he just never seemed to adjust to being in a running back by committee situation.

Of course, Lynch’s on the field production was probably the least of his worries. Lynch and the city of Buffalo needed to get a divorce. I’ve always stated that I could care less about what an athlete does in their spare time. However, when Lynch’s agent starts calling Buffalo Policeman “racist rogues,” you know that it’s time to cut the cord. What a reversal of fortune for Lynch. It was only two years ago that Lynch was probably the most popular Buffalo Bills player. Now, you could make the case that his run-ins with the law have made him the most unpopular Buffalo athlete amongst the fans and media-

BTW, what the heck is with the Bills last few starting running backs? Before Lynch’s problems, we had to put up with Willis McGahee’s issues with Buffalo women and Dave & Busters. Then we had Travis Henry, who must have never attended a sex ed class in high school. Not to mention he was a drug dealer. Should I even mention OJ Simpson? Where’s Thurman Thomas when you need him. Hopefully, Fred Jackson doesn’t pull a Willie Beamen.

As for a return on Lynch, Profootballtalk.com reports that there are rumors that the Chargers are interested in acquiring a running back and have been using Antonio Cromartie as a bargaining chip. The Bills don’t look to be in the market for a cornerback, even though I think Cromartie is better than Terrence McGee and Leodis McKelvin. However, if the Bills are smart, they should try and find a third team that is interested in Cromartie’s services and try and make it a 3-way trade. The Bills need all the draft picks they can get.

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Speaking of 3-way, it looks as if Tiger Woods is finally going to meet the media this Friday and make a statement. It has been almost three months since his car accident and his love exploits were..well, exploited. I don’t understand what took him so long to just face the media and get his problems off his chest. Didn’t he learn anything from A-Rod or Andy Pettitte for coming out right away and begging for forgiveness. Once you admit you did wrong, you can do a bunch of exclusive interviews with the big dogs in the media. Then after doing the press tour and winning a couple of tournaments, everyone will forgive and forget. Then Tiger can go back to his double life-

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Don’t fall for all these so-called Olympic fans, who are coming out of the woodwork and speaking highly about their love for the Luge and Curling. If people in the media are speaking about their love for these events, it’s only because they are trying to find something to talk about during a slow sports month. As for you, you’re only doing it so you can goto work tomorrow and strike up a conversation at the water cooler to prove that you’re a cool, diverse sports fan. Maybe you’re trying to get some girl to notice you at work by admitting that you enjoy speed skating. You know deep down inside that these Olympic events completely suck. So give up the charade and come clean.

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A lot of fans aren’t exactly thrilled with Olympic hockey games airing on MSNBC or CNBC. It’s a real punch in the gut for hockey, considering that Sunday night’s game between Team USA and Team Canada will air on MSNBC (Maybe Keith Olbermann or Rachel Maddow can replace Jeremy Roenick and Mike Milbury at intermission). Sorry hockey fans, but skating gets top billing for NBC on that night.

Like I said weeks ago, Ryan Miller isn’t going to become a household name if Team USA wins the gold because no one outside of Buffalo and Canada cares about Olympic hockey. The Olympics are all about showcasing young kids who have compelling stories of trials and tribulations. The audience wants stories of athletes who have been working for the last four years to achieve greatness in a 45 second event. Sorry Miller fans, but I just don’t see America getting behind someone who will be going back to a nice cushy goaltending job in Buffalo after the Olympics end.

More importantly, NBC doesn’t care about gaining hockey fans. They care about attracting women who will make their husbands watch figure skating and skiing.