We have spent some considerable time there over the past few years, more than some of the employees in fact and it has become a second home to a few of us here at the station (you know who you are).  We invite you to join us tomorrow to celebrate the official unofficial beginning of summer.

Check out some pictures from past years and reminisce the great times we’ve had.

Well, it’s a new era for the Bills with the signing of Mario Williams, so it’s fitting that the Bills get new fitted jerseys. Not much has changed except for that signature Nike swoosh and a sleeker, lighter weight material that the players say is more “breathable”, and Nike says is stronger. Biggest difference is the abscense of Red, White and Blue on the neckline because the wire-like threading that strengthens the jersey can only be manufactured in one color. Nike says the new jerseys will amplify speed. Bottom line: this is a marketing decision to amplify merchandise sales and extend the Nike Brand. But you know damn well, we’re going to buy them anyway.

Earlier this week Western New York’s New Era Cap Company became the official cap provider for the NFL, now the new jerseys. Looks like football fanatics in Buffalo will have lots of new merchandise to choose from. You can check out all the other NFL jerseys on Nike’s Facebook page. The new Bills merchandise goes on web presale April 15 and will be available in the Bills Store on April 26 (so now you know what to waste your tax return money on).

What do you think of the Bills new look?

Sure, there are plenty of bars in Buffalo to celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day, but we wanted to show you what Buffalo has to offer for Irish bars. What makes a bar an Irish bar/pub/tavern? It’s not all about having Guiness on tap, everyone has it.

 As you look through these pictures you will notice that all of them wither have something to do with a first/last name, most likely of the owner, ex: Griffin’s, Daly’s, Gene McCarthy’s etc… or the location of the bar itself, ex: The Avenue Pub (on S. Park Ave) or a combination of both (Mr. A’s Village Corner Pub).

An Irish pub is so much more than just a ‘corner bar’, it is often the hub of a community, where neighbors, friends and families get together.  An Irish bar should have great beer and whiskey (nothing too pricey though) and great food, again, nothing fancy. In many, you will not even find a kitchen, just a crock pot or a grill behind the bar where the bartender can whip something up for you.

Irish bars will blend into the neighborhood, no loud music or flashy lights, just dim lighting and dark harwood paneling make you feel right at home. Many bars are a group of tight-knit regulars that all know eachother by name, if you have never been to one of these bars before and are feeling like an outsider, don’t worry, you will be welocmed with open arms, everyone may turn and look at you when you walk in, but they’re just looking to see if it’s a friend stopping in for a pint.  Do yourself a favor and head down to South Buffalo for some of the classics in the old steel and rail neighborhoods, and stop in during the day a get a real history lesson from one of the old-timers.

Remember, in an Irish pub, there are no strangers, only friends that haven’t met yet.

6. Right Said Fred

Not only did Right Said Fred make bald sexy, they made it “Too Sexy”. Although still very androgynous, Right Said Fred was not only too sexy for this shirt, they were too sexy for this website. Put these two bald head together and it would be a doppelganger for the Twins on the Kardashians. Watch this video and tell us if you can tell who is Richard and who is Fred? What? They were a trio? Who cares about that guy he wasn’t bald, nor was he too sexy.

5. Midnight Oil

It’s not surprising that Midnight Oil drew comparisons to R.E.M in the late 80′s when they burst on to the MTV scene with their socially conscious song ”Beds are Burning”. Sadly, Midnight Oil never matched that songs success, although they had another minor hit with “Blue Sky Mine” in 1990. But who could forget thier video from the hot Austrailan outback with bald lead singer Peter Garrett doing his best Michael Stipe impression, while pondering how we could sleep while our beds are burning. Even though Garrett looked like a reject from Mad Max, he took his bald head into activism , was named Austraila’s Minister of the Environment and even served in thier House of Representitives. Not bad for a guy who was follically challenged.

4. Ed Kowalchuck

Soon after the arrival of Nirvana and Pearl Jam, Live burst onto the scene. But Lead singer Ed Kowalchuck wasn’t naturally bald. Their debut album “Mental Jewlry” showcased a longer-haired Kowalchuck head-banging to “Operation Spirit“. But Kowalchuk apparently busted out the shaving cream and blades to give him a new iconic look that he still carries today. And with the new look, Live vaulted to superstar status with thier album “Throwing Copper” which had 5 smash hits, including the bands biggest hit, “Lightning Crashes.”

3. Sinead O’ Connor

Best Known for  ripping up a picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live, Sinead O’Connor is one wacky Irish woman. Proving that bald women usually are a whole lot of crazy. Isn’t that right Britney Spears? O’Connor briefly grew her hair back, but shaved again when people started asking her if she was  Enya.

“I don’t feel like me unless I have my hair shaved. So even when I’m an old lady, I’m going to have it,” O’Connor told People Magazine. She managed to get back in the news recently, filing for divorce from her husband, who she had only been married to for 16 days. Take that Kim Kardashian. Baldies Rule!!

2. Billy Corgan

When you think bald lead-singers is there any cooler than Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins. This guy is a walking, talking, singing Lex Luthor. He looks downright scary, but has proved to be a pretty normal guy. In fact, he’s known for his sprituality which he must have used to get with Jessica Simpson for a while. But who hasn’t, really? Even though the Pumpkins haven’t been able to return to thier hit making status of the 90′s, two albums, “Siamese Dream” and the 2 hour epic “Melancholy and the Infinate Sadness” still resonate in music and on the Jack FM airwaves.

1. Michael Stipe

Not only are R.E.M. the godfathers of alternative music, but Michael Stipe is the godfather of bodacious baldness . Like Kowalchuk, Stipe didn’t always have the bald head. But right around the time the band started gaining national recognition with songs like “It’s the End of the World” and “The One I Love” Stipe was sans hair. The band went on to release thier two most successful mastepieces after that, culminating with an international smash on the song “Losing My Religion” which Stipe grew back his hair for. But could have R.E.M. been one of the biggest bands in the world if it wasn’t for Stipe’s occasional bald head and eyeliner? Probably not. This look got him into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.

Now all you have to do is pick up some chocolates, flowers maybe a chick flick from Redbox or a Marvin Gaye CD and you are good to go. But please, do yourself a favor and print out at least one of these cards, don’t email it to her. Nothing says ‘I Love You’ less than “hey, I really care about you, so I took three seconds out of my day to send you this photo”.

Tuesday, February 21 is Fat Tuesday, and every year Jack FM holds our charity marathon for people who want to help the American Heart Association, but are too lazy to actually run in a race. We had a great time last year, and thought you might want to see what the party was like before you buy tickets to this years race, er, walk.

Today is ‘National Clean Off Your Desk Day’, and after taking a quick walk around the office I realized that there are a few desks here that probably haven’t seen the light of day in a few years. If you can relate to any of these photos, do yourself a favor, take a few minutes and straighten up around you. It will not only make you feel better, but will also you make you more productive. Hey, you might even find that phone number you’ve been looking for for the past 6 months. Here are a few tips to de-clutter your workspace.

If your desk looks like this, you are all set.

Brad Hohman

If your desk looks like this when you come in, you should probably start looking for another job.

Brad Hohman

This is not the first game the Bills have had to compete against their opponent and also the Refs. This seems to be a growing trend in the NFL this season. Obviouse penalties are not being called, Non-touchdowns are being called touchdowns, and the review process has become a joke.

This is not a Buffalo problem as I have seen penalties not called/called against nearly every team in the NFL.  Makes me wonder if the officials were told to cut down the number of penalties being called to make the game more exciting.  The problem is these non-call/bad calls are having an effect on the outcome of games. 

Take Our Poll:

Photo by Len Schrantz

Although the wind and rain may have caused their numbers to dwindle a bit, the group that remains in Niagara Square is determined to see this through to the end. 

Occupy Buffalo has been told their permit to protest in the park just across the street from Buffalo City Hall is set to expire at 10:00 pm tonight.  The protesters are unsure what will happen at that time.  Will the police forcibly remove them or leave them alone to protest in peace.

I had the privilege to tour the new locker room for the Buffalo Sabres. And all I can say is: Holy. Crap.

If the attention to detail wasn’t enough, the way that the design incorporates the history with the future just blows you away.

Before the tour, everyone was talking about the fireplace (awesome) and the logo that you must never walk across on the locker room floor (more on that later). But there was so much more to these spaces. Spaces that most will never see. (Ted Black did say, however, that they are hoping to open up the areas for a public tour. Stay tuned on that.)

Everywhere you looked, there was something. Maybe it was small. Like the blue backlit area in the lounge. Or maybe it was staring you in the face, like the words carefully picked for the locker room: “Belief. Commitment. Character. Discipline. Trust. Excellence.”

No matter what it was, I know that if anyone on that tour walked in with a so-so feeling towards the Sabres, they definitely left a fan.

Because among the rows of training equipment, or the video games in the lounge, or the shrine from the Aud, or the Hall of Fame Wall, it came down to one thing: The Buffalo Sabres.

Each design was meticulously planned. No surface had gone untouched. And even on plain blue walls, you could see it: Pride and hope.  The Sabres have a rich history, and it’s all showcased throughout the halls. But the Sabres also have hope. A hope they believe in so much, many of the “timeline” walls, like the “Puck Wall” have blank spaces, to allow for current players’ names.

And that generates one thing for anyone who sees it: Excitement.

(OK, maybe two things, because I’m sure the players have some determination to get up there as well.)

Sure, I’m a little jealous of the Sabres-branded hot tub. Or the steam room. Or iPod mounts on the walls that allow you to pipe your tunes into that area. Or the aforementioned logo on the floor, that can be changed to reflect the teams left in the hunt for the Stanley Cup come playoff time, or to honor a fallen great, like Rick Martin. But I can’t shake the feeling that this team is finally getting what they deserve. The owners and the management see what us fans have seen for years. A team with heart. A team with determination. A team that deserves the best.

Isn’t there a statistic that says employees are more productive if they work in a supportive, fun environment? If that’s the case, then I can say – without doubt – this is our year.

Go Sabres!

The chance to win Jack’s Dumpy, Little Basement is here! Jack FM feels your pain, and wants to stock up your man-room with some testorone. Win Jack’s Dumpy, Little Basement and we’ll fill it with a pool table, X-box, sports and music memorabilia, mini-fridge, even a 50 inch flat screen. Starting Monday, listen at 9 am, 2 pm and 4 pm and get qualified with a Jack FM Beer Helmet and maybe you can turn your dumpy, little basement into an elegant and exclusive hideaway.

See what’s inside Jack’s Dumpy, Little Basement

twitter (@ESPNForsberg)

This is either really big news, or it is a slow news day. Sports pages are claiming this as ‘Breaking News’ and Twitter is lighting up with posts about Brady’s ‘Losing Locks’

To pay tribute to Brady’s missing mop-top, we have put together a gallery of his hair throughout the past few years.  Some of these looks include ‘the Bieber’ and ‘the Geico Caveman’.

In other grooming news…Ryan Fitzpatrick’s beard is back! The ‘Amish Rifle’ (just named AFC Offensive Player of the Month) has once again gone from pre-season stubble to a face full of ‘Winning Whiskers’ (yeah, I just came up with that). Never to be outdone by cry-baby Brady, Fitz’s beard is also getting quite a bit of attention on Twitter. In fact, the beard even has it’s own Facebook page! At the end of last season, Fitz hit the barber shop and got a clean shave as seen in this video, much to the dislike of many Bills fans who started online petitions for him to keep the beard. Alas, razor won and it was time for a clean start after a dismal season. Here are a few photos of the now famous beard from the last couple of years.

Fitz is not the only athlete with awesome facial hair, here are some of the best.
Perhaps Brady could take a note from Fitzpatrick and grow a beard, it may not make him play any better but at least it will cover up that crater on his chin.

Do you like the long hair or the short hair on Brady…or do you think he’s a tool either way?

When Fitzpatrick took a knee with .43 seconds left in the game I started counting down the seconds,… and then there were 3… Three seconds left and Bills kicker Rian Lindell was lining up for one of the biggest upsets, if not THE BIGGEST UPSET of 2011! “It’s Good, It’s Good!!!” And the Bills beat the New England Patriots 34-31. I, unfortunately was at the other side of the end-zone in section 103 only 15 rows up… But I will never forget!!! Where were you when the Bills broke a 15 game curse?!

We took these photos showing the progress being made and I have to say this locker room will be the envy of the NHL.  The main locker room area is a larger circular room and each locker will have its own ventilation system. There are new trainer’s rooms, equipment rooms, and what appears to be a new media room for post game interviews.

This amazing photo of a United States Military F-18 Jet breaking the sound barrier was taken at the Niagara Air Show this past weekend.  The Air show attracted thousands of onlookers to this annual event. 

Checkout the full gallery of the Airshow

If you haven’t been to the SPCA recently, check out these photos of the cats and dogs that are up for adoption. The staff is very friendly and would love to help you choose a little friend for you to bring home. The adoption process is very easy and the adoption fee includes:

-An adoring animal to bring home
-Spay/neuter surgery for dogs, cats and rabbits
-Age-appropriate vaccinations
-Initial deworming
-Dose of Advantage Flea Control (seasonal)
-Feline Leukemia
-Microchip identification for dogs and cats
-Pet’s first physical examination at the Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society veterinarian of your choice
-30 days free veterinary insurance (with e-mail address)
-PUPPIES 20 weeks and under receive FOUR “PUPPERGARDEN” CLASSES

Stop by the SPCA in Tonawanda: located at 205 Ensminger Road
Tonawanda, NY 14150 or call (716) 875-7360

Adoption Hours

Monday, Wednesday and Friday: 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. (Pre-Approvals close at 5:30 p.m.)
Tuesday and Thursday: 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. (Pre-Approvals close at 7:30 p.m.)
Saturday: 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (Pre-Approvals close at 4:30 p.m.)

I took these photos to share with all of you.  Tell me what you think.

Now that Irene has come and gone we are starting to see the images of her wake. Heavy damage has been reported all up and down the east coast from North Carolina to Maine. More than 20 deaths have now been attributed to Irene and damage estimates are expected to be in the billions of dollars.

By the time the storm reached New York City it had been downgraded to a tropical storm but the winds still howled throughthe streets of Manhattan and heavy surf crashed on the shores causing heavy erosion.