By John Howell
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-847685.mp3
Buffalo, NY – It's amazing sometimes, the way certain events and issues converge, and how one particular event can be the flashpoint for an entire boondoggle of issues. In my case it was the death of Randy Smith that opened a uniquely Buffalonian can of worms.
Randy Smith was the NBA's least known greatest player. He died on June 4th in his Norwich, CT home, while exercising on a treadmill. News of his death traveled quickly, especially among Buffalo expats.
As an expat myself, I am connected to several networks of people who know the meaning of a quote by long time Buffalo sportscaster, Rick Azar, that, "You can leave Buffalo, but Buffalo never leaves you."
Many expats of my generation still feel the loss of the Braves acutely because in an important sense the franchise is also an expat. The Braves left Buffalo but Buffalo did not leave them. They also left a huge gaping wound in the Buffalo psyche. Those who have left their hometown for various reasons have carried that open wound with them, and to a certain extent live in the same "of- Buffalo- though-not-in-Buffalo" limbo, captured by Azar in that expression.
It seems to be synergistic that Smith during the demolition of his former home, the old "Aud." While the Sabres moved their spirit and essence to the new arena, the Braves were left to haunt the Aud as it fell into disuse and decay because it is the last place they were present in Buffalo before their scandalous abduction by their double-dealing ownership.
The other issue that intersects with the death of a local hero, the loss of a great pro franchise and the demolition of the Aud, is the ongoing bad joke in Buffalo about building or not building the waterfront. It could be said that the Braves left town for the same reason the waterfront has not been developed despite its tremendous potential to enhance the local economy exponentially.
Randy Smith, though an NBA All-Star MVP and Ironman record holder ,died in relative obscurity because despite the potential for his personal and team success in Buffalo, the forces that usually coalesce in Buffalo to prevent the realization of potential at all levels, coalesced in the life of Randy Smith. But as damning and frustrating as it is that wasted potential continues to plague Buffalo as a city, a region, a sports market, and an economy, the life of Randy Smith also provides a counter-influence that can help us overcome this seemingly endless malaise.
The life of Randy Smith is symbolic of Buffalo. He played college ball at Buffalo State. Had he not been a local favorite, he would not have been drafted by the Braves. Had he not been drafted by the Braves he would not have gotten a chance to play in the NBA. He was only selected as a publicity stunt. He was not expected to make the team. Just as Buffalo is often misunderstood and under-appreciated, so was Smith.
But Smith knew himself better than his critics did and was determined to make the most of his opportunity. He knew what his weaknesses were and practiced tirelessly in the few months between the draft and rookie camp to raise the level of his game. The rest, as they say, is history. Not only did Smith make the final roster, but within a year he was a starter and star on the team. He, along with Bob McAdoo and Ernie Digregorio, led the Braves to challenge the two best NBA teams of that era, New York and Boston. In the Braves' last season in Buffalo, Smith was voted the MVP of the NBA All Star game by scoring 29 points in 27 minutes, leading the East to a two point victory.
Smith would become the only member of the Braves to remain in Buffalo throughout the team's existence. As Tim Wendel says of Smith in his book, Buffalo, Home of the Braves, "Randy is the one member of that team who has come to represent not only the Braves but Buffalo."
Buffalo sports seem to parallel the fortunes of Buffalo the city, or at least they have until now. The theme is "almost but not quite." Terms like "Wide Right" and "In the Crease" will continue to haunt Buffalo sports fans forever unless and until either the Bills or the Sabres wins a world championship. But perhaps the magic words that can end this reign of frustration are already being spoken in Buffalo, and come to us by way of our latest local sports hero as well as our most recently deceased hero.
Turner Gill, head football coach at UB has coined the phrase, "UB now means you believe.'" Gill has demonstrated the power of these words by taking a team with a losing culture and a roster full of unfulfilled potential and in three short years making champions of them.
Randy Smith would have resonated with Gill's new catch phrase. He believed in himself when no one else did. He made himself not only a local star but a star among stars in the NBA by sheer faith and determination.
As sad as it is for some of us to see the Aud coming down, it is coming down to make room for new downtown development. It could be the first step toward building the waterfront. Perhaps we should erect a statue of Randy Smith doing one of his signature backward slam dunks on the sidewalk in front of the new Bass Pro Shop, not only to remind Buffalonians of the glory and drama of the team that once occupied that space, but also of the power of one Buff State kid that wasn't expected to succeed, but who willed himself, and with him his team and his city, to greatness. It is a perfect time for Buffalo to stop the back and forth and pettiness that cost us the Braves, that has cost us any dividend from the beautiful waterfront God has given us, and that has kept us from achieving so much potential on so many levels for so long. It's time for us all to stand together and chant in unison, "UB Now means You Believe."
Listener-Commentator John Howell is a representative of the Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.
Click the audio player above to hear the commentary now or use your podcasting software to download it to your computer or iPod.