Published: November 22, 2007 09:48 pm      

TIM SCHMITT: What I'm thankful for this year

Sure the Sabres have slipped and the Bills are still battling with mediocrity. But once again there’s plenty to be thankful for this year in the sports world, even if last Sunday left us smarting.

Set the remote on your ample belly for a second and join me in what may have to become an annual tradition — a nod to the sports gods for what they’ve bestowed upon us:

• DONTE WHITNER: Nobody means more to the Bills than the former first-rounder from Ohio State. He’s tough, smart and never quits.

Whitner was still fighting even when the Bills were getting walloped by the Pats on Sunday. He was knocking guys out of bounds with the same verve he’d display in a playoff game.

It’s hard to say that it bothers him when the Bills lose as much as that buddy of yours from Newfane with the shrine in his basement, but he gets it. Losing is contagious. The Bills have had the bug for ages.

And Whitner just wants to get well again.

• TYRONE LEWIS: If you can’t have fun watching this Niagara University sophomore, you don’t like basketball.

Lewis has personality, both on and off the court. He’s smart, smooth and funny.

During Tuesday’s walloping of UB, Lewis scored 18 points and had four steals, but my favorite moment came after a close call in the second half. While a teammate shot freethrows, Lewis smiled wide and joked with one official before the first free throw.

Then he sauntered over to the other and cracked a joke with him. Working the whole room.

Then better yet, he made a point in the post-game press conference of asking why he only got one question.

Lewis loves to talk, and his play does plenty of it.

Oh, and by the way, he’ll be the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference player of the year at least once.

No pressure, Tyrone.

• DEREK ROY: This one doesn’t make sense. Roy? The guy who missed two open nets in two nights?

That’s right. Roy got a rep as a diver in his first few years, probably one that was justly deserved, although smart considering the way the game was being called back then.

But now, he plugs along judiciously, taking cross checks to the back of his noggin. And it’s not because that’s where others are aiming. Roy is listed at 5-foot-9. I’m saying that’s at least too inches too generous.

• LARRY QUINN’S EGO: For some reason or another, Quinn think he’s so important that we in the media — and therefore you, Sabres fans — need to know how he feels about every tiny bit of information released.

Wednesday’s example? A quote from Quinn on the press release that Ryan Miller and Drew Stafford would appear with Ronan Tynan and the BPO on Dec. 30.

This is straight from the release:

“I think it’s great that these guys have agreed to participate,” stated Sabres Managing Partner Larry Quinn. “Not only are they great performers on the ice, but they are also accomplished musicians.”

In a town that’s known for having low self-esteem, Quinn keeps proving he’s got enough for all of us.

• THE ICE BOWL: And this one’s maybe more amazement than thankfulness. Let’s get this straight — more than 75,000 people feel they’d like to drag their hungover, bloated hind ends to Orchard Park to celebrate the holiday with a regular season hockey game?

God bless this town.

By the way. See you there.