NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly is a man fighting two battles at once.One is against the agressive oral cancer that threatens his life;the other is against the commercial interests in Ontario,Canada or elsewhere that may buy and eventually relocate his beloved Buffalo Bills,who are for sale following the death of founder and owner Ralph Wilson.In a statement released Thursday by his company,Jim Kelly,Inc.,Kelly said this cancer has been rough.It's hurt really bad and the treatments have kicked my butt.But my faith in God is strong and I'm back home in Buffalo working with a good team of doctors.I'm not out of the woods by any means,but we think the treatments are going well and I know I'm going to beat this.*
In an interview with The Buffalo News,Jim went into considerable detail about his struggles.It just seems like you're falling apart,the Western New York hero said.I went two weeks without eating.No tastebuds,no nothing.I wasn't getting any nutrition.Finally they had to put a feeding tube in.The radiation is burning my mouth.I have no skin on the roof of my mouth,but I'm getting through it.I've had such a supporting cast,not only from my family,but from Western New York-and all over the world.That surprised me.I have eight more radiation treatments and one more chemo treatment left.
I've gotten a number of emails from people who have been through the same thing with suggestions on how to deal with it.That helps.I fight every battle every day.I'm not scared to die.I know my tomorrows are going to be better than today.I know I'm going to see my late son again.
I still have so many things I've got to do-making sure the Bills stay in Buffalo.I'm battling,but it's not the battle I want to fight right now.I'm trying to do all I can right now.
Keep voicing your opinion.Whoever the new owner is,Western New York has to be the destination.Donald Trump is excited.We should know in the next six months who the players are,a very alert and determined Jim Kelly told sports writer Mark Gaughan from his black leather rocker with a red pillow.
Showing posts with label Ralph Wilson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ralph Wilson. Show all posts
Friday, May 16, 2014
Friday, April 11, 2014
Buffalo Bills Attracting Potential Bidders-plus a Jim Kelly update
With the death of Buffalo Bills founder and owner Ralph Wilson at age 95 on March 25,the future of his beloved NFL franchise is up for grabs.His widow,Mary Wilson,is keeping an eye on the team until its eventual sale,which could occur as early as this summer.Interest in bidding for the team is coming from north of the border in the shape of a Toronto group which includes rock star Jon Bon Jovi,who has long been determined to become an NFL owner.His publicist confirmed Bon Jovi is still "passionately interested" Thursday,but wouldn't comment further.
A number of ideas about the team are being floated,ranging from moving them to Niagara County,closer to their growing legion of Canadian fans,to actually moving them to Toronto or even Los Angeles.It all depends on who evetually acquires the team.They will have to stay in their current home in Orchard Park,New York under the terms of a lease they have with Erie County until 2020 at the earliest.Ralph Wilson Stadium in Erie County is 41 years old and undergoing a 130 million dollar facelift to bring it up to NFL standards with structural upgrades and fan amenities.A move to Toronto,including the purchase price,new stadium and practice facilities,could cost upwards of an estimated 2.5 billion dollars.
Backing the Toronto group in a potential bid for the Bills is Maple Leaf Sports& Entertainment,the owners of a number of other franchises,including the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL team,the Toronto Raptors NBA franchise,as well as the MLS soccer team Toronto FC.Other bidders could include Rogers Communications,who are the owners of Rogers Centre in Toronto,and a Los Angeles group.
Locally,a working group of public and private community leaders is studying the Bills' future.The Bills are New York state's only NFL franchise,since the New York Giants and New York Jets are actually based in New Jersey.The Bills bring in about 20 million dollars in tax revenue annually.
About 18% of the fans at Bills home games are Canadian.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that they have worked very hard in Buffalo,and obviously Western New York and Southern Ontario to regionalise that team,to attract a broader area.Again,that's important and that's something that we want to encourage,Mr.Goodell emphasised.
For some time,the Bills have played one of thir home games in Toronto.Even further afield,there has recently been an annual NFL game in London,England,and some talk of basing a franchise there as well.*
Update:Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly completed his first of three rounds of chemotherapy on Tuesday at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.He is also to receive radiation treatments over the next six weeks.His wife,Jill Kelly,tweeted the following message:First round of chemo
DONE.Be glorified even in this Lord!
Jim has been suffering from severe headaches since his oral cancer surgery in June,which were eventually discovered to be from microscopic tumours forming from his lips up to his cheek along the infraorbital nerve.His doctor says his cancer is very treatable and possibly curable.
Before he left for the hospital,Jim had a good visit with former NFL teammates Thurman Thomas,Bruce Smith and Andre Reed.A lot of people have been tweeting their prayers and support for Jim since then.It's a lot stronger than any medicine,Jill Kelly says.
A number of ideas about the team are being floated,ranging from moving them to Niagara County,closer to their growing legion of Canadian fans,to actually moving them to Toronto or even Los Angeles.It all depends on who evetually acquires the team.They will have to stay in their current home in Orchard Park,New York under the terms of a lease they have with Erie County until 2020 at the earliest.Ralph Wilson Stadium in Erie County is 41 years old and undergoing a 130 million dollar facelift to bring it up to NFL standards with structural upgrades and fan amenities.A move to Toronto,including the purchase price,new stadium and practice facilities,could cost upwards of an estimated 2.5 billion dollars.
Backing the Toronto group in a potential bid for the Bills is Maple Leaf Sports& Entertainment,the owners of a number of other franchises,including the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL team,the Toronto Raptors NBA franchise,as well as the MLS soccer team Toronto FC.Other bidders could include Rogers Communications,who are the owners of Rogers Centre in Toronto,and a Los Angeles group.
Locally,a working group of public and private community leaders is studying the Bills' future.The Bills are New York state's only NFL franchise,since the New York Giants and New York Jets are actually based in New Jersey.The Bills bring in about 20 million dollars in tax revenue annually.
About 18% of the fans at Bills home games are Canadian.NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that they have worked very hard in Buffalo,and obviously Western New York and Southern Ontario to regionalise that team,to attract a broader area.Again,that's important and that's something that we want to encourage,Mr.Goodell emphasised.
For some time,the Bills have played one of thir home games in Toronto.Even further afield,there has recently been an annual NFL game in London,England,and some talk of basing a franchise there as well.*
Update:Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly completed his first of three rounds of chemotherapy on Tuesday at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York.He is also to receive radiation treatments over the next six weeks.His wife,Jill Kelly,tweeted the following message:First round of chemo
DONE.Be glorified even in this Lord!
Jim has been suffering from severe headaches since his oral cancer surgery in June,which were eventually discovered to be from microscopic tumours forming from his lips up to his cheek along the infraorbital nerve.His doctor says his cancer is very treatable and possibly curable.
Before he left for the hospital,Jim had a good visit with former NFL teammates Thurman Thomas,Bruce Smith and Andre Reed.A lot of people have been tweeting their prayers and support for Jim since then.It's a lot stronger than any medicine,Jill Kelly says.
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