1. The Evolution and Legacy of Randy Smith, Buffalo's Brave

    I believe nothing happens by accident. There is synergy in our actions and events beyond our understanding occurring all the time...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 172 reads 4 comments

  2. In Memory of Randy Smith, Get Drew Willy Into a BIlls Jersey

    Randy Smith died yesterday. What does that have to do with Drew Willy? Everything. In a previous article (http://bleacherreport...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 141 reads 3 comments

  3. Chicago Fire All-Time Best Team: Novak Yes, Blanco No

    MLS' Chicago Fire made history by winning a double (MLS Cup and US Open Cup) Championship in their expansion year under coach Bob Bradley and General Manager Peter Wilt...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 876 reads 6 comments

  4. A Personal Tribute to The Late, Great, Randy Smith

    Randy Smith died yesterday (see my article). As a kid growing up in Buffalo, my first exposure to Randy Smith was at a Buffalo State soccer match in the Fall of 1970...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 225 reads 8 comments

  5. Randy Smith, NBA All-Star MVP Dead at Age 60

    CBSsports.com reports that former NBA iron man Randy Smith was pronounced dead on arrival at Backus Hospital in Norwich, CT yesterday. A separate source cites the cause of death as a heart attack...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 987 reads 4 comments

  6. Red Stars Will Take the Tie: Losing Streak and Scoring Drought End in LA

    How do you cure a slump? End your scoring drought. Tie the first place team. That's exactly what the Chicago Red Stars accomplished at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA against the LA Sol with a 1-1 draw...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 67 reads 1 comments

  7. California Scheming for the Chicago Red Stars

    The bleeding has to stop. It has to stop now. It has to stop here. The Chicago Red Stars all know it. Coach Emma Hayes knows it. Nuff said. Everyone knows what to do and how to do it...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 53 reads 0 comments

  8. WPS Needs Psychologists

    The most interesting little-known fact about the WPS's fledgling season is that there have been no come-from-behind victories thus far. Think about that. There are seven teams with 25 games played, and not one come-from-behind victory...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 77 reads 11 comments

  9. Why Kansas City Isn't a Top-Five Underdog Town

    Last week, I published a series of articles introduced by a slide show naming the top five underdog towns in major league sports. It actually was six towns since there was a third place tie...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 24 reads 2 comments

  10. There Is No Such Thing As a Good Bye! Red Stars Wait Prolonged

    The number three is not Chicago's lucky number at the moment. We think of three straight WPS losses. Three hundred (plus) scoreless minutes. Waiting from May twenty-three until June three to redeem themselves...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 59 reads 0 comments

  11. Underdog Sports and Spirituality

    There's more to life than sports, for sure, but there's more to sports than sports... There's a lot of life in sports...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 40 reads 0 comments

  12. Underdogs or Dead Dogs? Bobby Layne's Curse Expires in Detroit

    This article is the first in an occasional series evaluating the seemingly most hopeless underdogs, looking for any sign of life. The Detroit Lions surprised no one by making University of Georgia Bulldogs QB Matt Stafford their number one pick...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 143 reads 2 comments

  13. Top Five Major League Underdog Towns

    This slideshow is an introduction to a series of articles about the greatest underdog venues in U.S. pro sports...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 3 reads 4 comments

  14. Top Five Professional Sports Underdog Towns: No. 1 Buffalo

    This is the fifth and final submission in a series of articles about the greatest underdog venues in U.S. pro sports...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 1,144 reads 14 comments

  15. Top Five Major League Underdog Towns: 2. Cleveland

    This is the fourth in a series of articles about the greatest underdog venues in U.S. pro sports. The criteria is simple: small-market towns, communities that get no respect, that personify the ...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 110 reads 3 comments

  16. Top Five Major League Underdog Towns, No. 3 (Tie) New Orleans and Green Bay

    This is the third in a series of articles about the greatest underdog venues in U.S. pro sports. The criteria is simple: small-market towns, communities that get no respect, that personify the ...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 202 reads 0 comments

  17. Top Five Major League Underdog Towns: 4, Milwaukee

    This is the second in a series of articles about the greatest underdog venues in U.S. pro sports. The criteria is simple: small market towns, communities that get no respect, that personify ...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 267 reads 4 comments

  18. Top Five Major League Underdog Towns: 5, Oklahoma City

    This is the first in a series of articles about the greatest underdog venues in U.S. pro sports. The criteria is simple: small market towns, communities that get no respect, that personify the ...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 176 reads 3 comments

  19. Red Stars Central to U.S. Women's National Team Win Over Canada

    Two members of the WPS' Chicago Red Stars tallied a goal each to lead the United States Women's National Team to a 4-0 victory over Canada in Toronto Monday...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 61 reads 0 comments

  20. Soccer Snobbery, Sexism Hurting the American Game

    An article I posted on B/R yesterday, "Would Americanizing Soccer Ensure Success for MLS and WPS?" opened a can of worms that requires some additional discussion...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 285 reads 9 comments

  21. Soccer Star Megan Rapinoe: Chicago Style Standout

    This article is the second in a series of features that will include the entire roster of the Chicago Red Stars before season's end. See also, at B/R, features of the Boston Breakers by Todd Civin, and the Los Angeles Sol by Jo-Ryan Salazar...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 2,998 reads 4 comments

  22. Would Americanizing Soccer Ensure the Success of MLS and WPS?

    In another B/R article posted today, What the MLS Must Do to Still be in the US in 2020, Mark Jones makes some excellent points, but gets several things wrong as well...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 340 reads 26 comments

  23. The Buck Stops With Dick

    Consider me twice bitten. I'm a Buffalo native now living in Chicago. I've suffered a double shot of Dick Jauron and I'm reeling...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 69 reads 3 comments

  24. Bills' 2009 Playbook for the Layperson: ABC's Not X's & O's

    The average football fan brain shuts down when the TV pundits start writing X's and O's on the screen, diagramming plays. Those who have actually played football may get it. The rest just wait for the announcers to switch back to English...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 99 reads 1 comments

  25. Why TO and Buffalo Are a Match Made in Heaven: Imagine the Interview

    Conventional wisdom doesn't play well in Buffalo. That's why, when the rest of the world was laughing at the Bills' decision to sign TO to a one year contract, most Buffalo fans were celebrating...

    John Howell Written by John Howell about 4 years ago 94 reads 6 comments