Maybe Just Maybe

hope v. intr.- a belief in a positive outcome related to events and circumstances in one's life. Hope implies a certain amount of perseverance — i.e., believing that a positive outcome is possible even when there is some evidence to the contrary.

That definition signifies the attitude of an entire city lately, a collection of often-battered fighters who may just be turning the corner and turning Buffalo around. This definition also rings a little truer today after that metaphor for the Queen City called last night’s Sabres victory.

Every emotion was conveyed in the final few minutes, not just for a team, but for a region. It is often unfair when mainstream media, along with the general public, engage athletics as more than they are. In the end, the games are arbitrary to what matters most in life. However, these Buffalo Sabres, a scrappy ego-less team in an overlooked league are perfect representation for the scrappy, ego-less citizens of this overlooked gem called Buffalo, NY.

Being down with 15 seconds left and what looked like only a prayer to extend this dream season, you could look around HSBC Arena and see the deflated face of an entire region, from grandmother to business mogul to our youth, all emoting that look of “here we go again.” Buffalo has been knocked countless times for the weather, loss of jobs, development, you name it. Up until now, it is a model of how NOT to build a city.

But Chris Drury never quit, and when he somehow found the back of the net with 7.7 seconds left, you saw that look like we just might have turned the corner. Yes, the building erupted, as I assume bars and living rooms all over the area did the same. It was a great goal, but much more grandiose than that.

It showed that spark that Buffalo is not going down this time. You can see the progression everywhere. It is brewing, albeit at a slow rate, but things are happening and people are believing that Buffalo is doing something, anything, to be a once again proud city of change. Development is starting to occur, money is coming into the area and job growth has been steady. We are not over the hump by any means, but it’s a start.

Which brings me back to the Sabres. We have latched onto a group of unassuming, never-quit young men who represent so much of us, that we have adopted and followed to epic proportions this past season. With so much hype and talent, our expectations are the absolute peak, the first championship for a city that probably deserves it more than any other. Seeing the city rally around anything and dumping all of our emotions into, that thought of losing it all was right there on the doorstep last night. It would have been easy to throw in the towel, since we are used to being kicked while we’re down. But not this time. Emoting that perseverance, when the contrary says its not your time, went away with the help of Drury’s stick.

Now it is time to turn that hope into a tangible reality. Regardless if Lord Stanley’s chalice finds its way down Delaware Avenue on parade or we fall short, the season will fade away. But Buffalo will still be here, and what looks like on its way to being stronger than ever. To come full circle and quote the Goo Goo Dolls, whose Sabres playoff rally cry “Better Days” plays to open each game, “Cause tonight’s the night the world begins again.” That sentiment might be a little much, but I sure hope it is a start.