Commentary
Bowman Showcase goes a long way in bolstering sport
MATT KRUEGER Sports Reporter
For the third year in a row, the hockey fans of Western New York will get a chance to see some future NHL players with the Bowman Showcase Sunday at HSBC Arena.

Featuring the best high school aged players from Buffalo and Rochester, the Showcase exemplifies the thrill and exuberance of youth. For the past two years, the level of hockey on display was impressive for youngsters. And that should continue this year.

The best high school hockey players in New York come from the Western end of the Empire State. So the kids taking the ice Sunday are the best the state has to offer. Want to take a bet that a couple of these kids won't end up playing in the pro ranks?

Since you can't get tickets to see the Sabres, why not check out the possible future of the sport in a two-game series between kids. And watch Buffalo try for its third consecutive sweep.

Here are a few other thoughts for your week:

+ Town of Tonawanda heavyweight boxer "Baby" Joe Mesi's fight Saturday against tomato can Marvin Hill at the Hughes Center in Russellville Ark. may be scheduled for 10 rounds, but don't expect it to last longer than the ring introductions.

Hill (20-10) is a tomato can, who will do little to bolster Mesi's comeback from a forced two-year suspension. The win will pad Mesi's record to 35-0, but will not aid the former WBC No. 1 contender in his search to climb back up the rankings. This is the sixth fight in Mesi's comeback and he's still taking baby steps. Fans and critics demand he face someone of stature.

+ The debate rages on about the possibility of outlawing fighting from the NHL, and people on both sides share equal fervor. My question is why?

What possible function does fighting serve in the new, post-lockout NHL? And don't give me the "players need to police themselves" argument again. The league should drop the hammer on dropping the gloves and send notice to all players that fighting will not be tolerated.

Take a look at the Buffalo Sabres. Would they be better served holding onto Andrew Peters or bringing up Drew Stafford for the postseason? Well, that answer will ring loud and clear Thursday when the Sabres open up the Stanley Cup playoffs against the New York Islanders. Peters will take his rightful seat in the HSBC Arena press box, like he did for every home playoff game last year. Stafford, who was sent back to Rochester to make room for the returning Tim Connolly Saturday, will rejoin his Buffalo teammates on the ice. And that's the right call for coach Lindy Ruff to make.

+ You know you live in Buffalo when the opening day of baseball season gets snowed out. From the Buffalo Bisons down to the local high school teams, nobody is taking to the diamonds thanks to Mother Nature's latest blast of snowy chaos.

I say it every year, but no one listens, so I'll say it again. Scheduling baseball games in April is ridiculous. This isn't Florida. At least give the fields a chance to thaw out before trying to pound your cleats into the frozen dirt.

If you schedule games this early in the year, you're only causing more havoc with rescheduling issues. The Bisons could have opened the season in Richmond instead of the other way around. High Schools could have done without playing non-league games for a few weeks.

e-mail: mkrueger@beenews.com