ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With hundreds of pictures and mementos on display honouring Buffalo Bills late owner Ralph Wilson, Bruce Smith couldnt resist bringing one more on Saturday. The Hall of Fame defensive end pulled out a photo taken the day he signed his rookie contract in 1985. The picture showed Wilson with his hands across his face as if he were praying. "He has that worried look on his face, like, Lord knows, I hope Im not wasting this draft pick on this chubby kid from Norfolk, Va.," Smith said, laughing. "I thought it would be befitting I brought this, and showed some of the players. And they got a big laugh out of it." "That," said Smith, who became the NFLs career leader in sacks, "is one of my special memories." There were many during a public remembrance celebrating the 95-year-old Hall of Fame owners life. With Frank Sinatra -- Wilsons favourite -- playing over the loudspeakers, and an array of photos, trophies and souvenirs spread throughout the teams practice facility, former and current players, employees and thousands of fans paid their respects to the teams founder, who died at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores, Mich., on March 25. "The Bills are more than just a football team. Theyre family," said Matt Guarino, a 20-year season-ticket holder. "So we came to pay our respects just like we would any friend and any family member." The remembrance took place a week after a private funeral service was held in Detroit. The mood on Saturday was festive. Under grey cloudy skies and with a cold brisk wind blowing off nearby Lake Erie, a long line of fans snaked into the parking lot once the doors opened. Many wore team jerseys and posed for pictures in front of the Wilson memorabilia. The displays circled the fieldhouse, and featured many significant moments of Wilsons life: From childhood pictures to the medals he earned serving in the Navy during World War II, and photos of Wilson with his fellow American Football League founding owners. There was a painting of Wilson watching the Bills 1993 Super Bowl loss. The franchises two AFL championship trophies were displayed, as was Wilsons Pro Football Hall of Fame bust and gold jacket. In the middle of the field, the Bills recreated the layout of Wilsons office. There was a team helmet on the coffee table, press releases on his desk, as well as a picture of him and his wife Mary. And Mary Wilson was on hand. Standing near a guestbook area, she greeted fans, shared stories, signed autographs and posed for pictures. "He was a great sportsman," Wilson told one fan. "He loved competition. And thats why we got along so well. I was like that, too." In a statement released by the team, she thanked people "for their tremendous outpouring of love for Ralph." "Before he passed, he told me that he wanted people to celebrate his life after he was gone. He wasnt big on tears," she said. "Ralph most likely would have offered a funny quip about todays event. But at the same time, he would have been profoundly touched by the fans outpouring of emotion." Mary Wilson has taken over as the Bills controlling owner, a role she will maintain until the franchise is sold. Ralph Wilson expressed no interest of leaving the team to his surviving family members. The sale could take place within a year, opening the possibility the Bills could relocate. "Keeping this team here meant a lot to me," said Rich Izydorczak, whos had season tickets for 41 years. "And I hope it stays this way for a long time to come." Kathleen Hubbard, a Bills cheerleader in the early 1970s, brought a picture of Wilson posing with her and other cheerleaders on the field. A business not far from the stadium flashed the message, "You will be missed Ralph Wilson Jr.," on its electronic sign. Former Bills tight end Kevin Everett, in Buffalo for another event, made sure to show up to honour Wilson. Everett has recovered since being nearly paralyzed after sustaining a severe neck injury during the 2007 season opener. Part of his recovery was aided by the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, a foundation which Wilson supported with a $1 million donation before Everett was hurt. "I thank God for his work that everything paid off to help benefit one of his players," Everett said. "He has a big heart. I thank God for what he did." Stitched Diamondbacks Jerseys . The 18-year-old Januzaj has made his breakthrough at United this season, including scoring twice in a 2-1 win over Sunderland before the recent international break. His performances have sparked a debate about where his international future lies. Custom Arizona Diamondbacks Jerseys . -- Josh Smith made a 3-pointer as time expired and finished with 20 points to lift the Detroit Pistons to a 99-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday night in both teams exhibition finale. https://www.cheapdiamondbacksjerseys.us/.com) - Matt Duchene picked up the deciding goal early in the third period and added an assist, as Colorado escaped with a 4-3 victory over Dallas at Pepsi Center. Cheap Diamondbacks Jerseys . -- Conor Casey scored two goals, his first of the season, as the Philadelphia Union beat Chivas USA 3-0 on Saturday night. Diamondbacks Jerseys 2020 . American Lindsey Jacobellis was third, while Japans Yuka Fujimori finished just off the podium. Maltais, from Petite-Riviere-St-Francois, Que., earned bronze at the 2006 Olympic Games and is set to return to the Games this February in Sochi, Russia.BUFFALO, N.Y. - Columbus Blue Jackets coach Todd Richards wanted a fast start this time, and his team delivered.Everyones been talking about us getting off to slow starts, Richards said. Thats one thing were trying to guard against. We want to get off on the right foot here.Columbus started 2-5 and 2-5-1 the past two seasons, but showed no signs of rust as it dominated the Buffalo Sabres in a comprehensive 3-1 win to open the season Thursday night.We didnt have any passengers tonight, Richards said. It was a total team effort.Cam Atkinson scored the tiebreaking goal on a third-period power play, and Artem Anisimov and Jack Skille also scored for the Blue Jackets, who went to the playoffs as an Eastern Conference wild card last season.You get all the kinks out in the preseason and thats where all the sloppy hockey comes, Atkinson said. You never know what to expect with the first game, especially when both sides have a lot of adrenaline.Zemgus Girgensons scored for Buffalo, and Jhonas Enroth made 37 saves.Columbus got 21 saves from Sergei Bobrovsky. Atkinson snapped a 1-all tie with 7:15 remaining, working the puck back and forth with Ryan Johansen before beating Enroth.Johansen just ended a contentious and public training camp holdout by signing a three-year contract extension Monday, and played well despite the layoff.Im sure a lot of people and fans didnt know what to expect from him tonight and it was a typical Johansen that we all love, Atkinson said. He created a lot of space for me and (Nick Foligno) and we got a lot of scoring chances.Sabres owner Terry Pegula was in the building one day after being unanimously approved as the new owner of the NFLs Buffalo Bills.The Sabres had the worst record in the NHL by 14 points last season and didnt give the fans much offensive excitement.Head coach Ted Nolan wasnt happy.I didnt like our effort tonight, Nolan said. I think it was OK at best. I dont know what it was. I think guys really wanted to do it.Buffalos start was promising, but Bobrovsky stood firm. He made a strong right blocker save on Andre Benoit early in the first period and was forced to make a point-blank save on Chris Stewart moments later as the Sabres reeled off four straight shots.For his part, Enroth made a pair of in-close saves during the Blue Jackets first power play and benefited from a shot that hit the post.ddddddddddddBuffalos second overall draft pick, Sam Reinhart, was hit hard near the midway point of the first by Blue Jackets right wing Jared Boll, who soon found himself face-to-face with Mike Weber. Both took roughing penalties.Youre told what its like, but until you get that game experience you dont understand, Reinhart said of his first NHL game. Its certainly a little bit different from the preseason. I think I got better as the game went on and I felt my confidence get higher as the game passed.Scott Hartnell redirected a shot off the crossbar late in the first, and Enroth stopped Mark Letestu on a 1-on-1 before the period expired.Skille scored first at 13:21 of the second period. Skating down the right side, he took a snap shot that beat Enroth high, popping the lid off the goalies water bottle and sending liquid flying through the air behind the net.The goal was a relief for Skille, who left Columbus for the New York Islanders in the off-season but was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jackets on Sunday.Its good to be back in this room, back on this team, he said. Its unfortunate what happened with the Islanders. Id like to thank them for the opportunity, but Im glad to be back home and with this group.Girgensons countered just more than a minute later when he stickhandled his way through the Blue Jackets defence before flipping a puck past Bobrovsky.The Sabres earned their first power play when Fedor Tyutin took a hooking penalty at 9:09 of the third. That was interrupted by a hooking call to Brian Gionta, and Atkinson made the most of Columbus fourth power play by manoeuvring around Benoit and beating Enroth at 12:45.When they tied it up there I felt they had a little momentum, Johansen said. But we did a good job of weathering them and we just kept plugging away on our side and started taking over the game again.Anisimov capped the scoring on a soft wrist shot with just more than 2 minutes to play.NOTES: Only six current Sabres were on the opening-day roster two years ago. ... Blue Jackets left wing Nick Foligno was born in Buffalo and is the older brother of Sabres left wing Marcus Foligno ... The game was the first as Sabres captain for Gionta, a Rochester native. ' ' '