SB Nation User Blog: Calvert

Brian Burke sez...

Calvert — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 03:01:45 -0000

I'm listening to the Sharks-Blackhawks game on internet radio and Dan Rusanowski, the voice of the Sharks, just interviewed Leafs and Team USA GM Brian Burke. I apologize that I can't get an exact quote but Burke's words were something like, "We can't compete straight up talent for talent with teams like Canada and Russia so what we're looking for on the team are specialists...players who do some things exceptionally well." Although the official Team USA announcement will be made at the Winter Classic between the Bruins and Flyers, I would strongly speculate based on Burke's comments that Paul Gaustad just made the team.

When RJ finally retires

Calvert — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:32:07 -0000

Editor Note: This is a fantastic fanpost regarding the Sabres broadcasting situation. Being a broadcaster has been a dream of mine so this topic really hits close to home with me.

Rick Jeanneret has been one of the constants for the Sabres organization almost since its inception. He is signed to broadcast for the team again for the 2009-10 season. He is also 67 years old. While his love for the game has never been in doubt, his physical ability to handle the constant travel necessary to do his job is beginning to wane. He took some time off last season on a Western trip to recuperate, something he has never done before. While it is painful for any Sabres fan to think this, we have to begin wondering just how long the Jeanneret era can go on and how much more service to this community RJ's body can continue to give us. It is time for Sabres fans to begin thinking the unthinkable: life in the post-Jeanneret era.

So, what I am bringing up are a list of possible candidates to be RJ's successor as the Sabres play-by-play man. Since the Sabres are typically fond of selecting people with some sort of tie to the organization, the first three names I will offer are people who have such ties. Who could be the next Sabres play-by-play man? The list after the jump.

Candidate #1: Pete Weber. Current position: Play-by-play announcer, Nashville Predators

There are few voices Western New York knows better than Weber. He was the play-by-play man for the Bisons for thirteen years, calling some of the Herd's most memorable games, including the miracle comeback 9th inning (that fell painfully short) in Game 4 of the 1991 AA Championship series against Denver. He was the Sabres radio play-by-play man during the time there was a split tv/radio broadcast in the mid-90s. He also served as color man for the Los Angeles Kings in the "Triple Crown Line" era and has been the only play-by-play man the Predators have ever had. He's done work for the Bills, Bulls and Bonnies. Frankly, there is no better candidate. However, Weber is also no longer young and the way his situation was handled when the Sabres eliminated his position might have soured him on the organization. Let us hope that new ownership and management might change his mind. Weber is a consummate professional in every sense of the word and I hope that someday he shall be enshrined in the Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame for the service to the community he has already done.

Candidate #2: Randy Moller. Current position: Play-by-play announcer, Florida Panthers

Former Sabres defenseman Randy Moller is one of the few players who has turned into a successful play-by-play man. He is also, well, let's be blunt, a rogue announcer. Moller is best known for his wide variety of unusual goal calls, often involving movie quotes or pop culture references. He's a showman but in a very different manner than RJ is. I am not certain that his style will be appreciated in Buffalo but I can tell you that Panthers games are always fun to listen to.

Candidate #3: Mark Jeanneret. Current position: Play-by-play annoucer, Erie Otters (OHL)

Mark's first name is not well known to Sabres fans but his last name is. Rick's son has been the play-by-play man for the Otters for quite some time now. Having been to and have listened to quite a few Otters games in my time (my father-in-law and brother-in-law have season tickets), there is a reason why Mark is still plying his trade in the OHL. He's simply not anything even remotely approaching NHL caliber. Even if he was only half the broadcaster his father is, he'd be a good choice. Unfortunately, that would be generous.

Candidate #4: Curt Keilback. Current position: Now a realtor in Winnipeg

When RJ went on vacation during the team's Western swing last season, Keilback was selected as his replacement. He was the voice of the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes from 1979 until he was unexpectedly terminated in 2007. He did a superlative job as RJ's temporary replacement and you have to wonder if the Sabres were at that time looking at him as a possible replacement in the long term. It is truly a puzzlement why a play-by-play man of his level of skill does not have work in the business.

While Weber and Keilback are no longer young, both Mark Jeanneret and Moller are still in their prime and could last for a very long time. Stability is something this community values and I think that might be a good reason to choose a younger announcer over an established veteran. Still, we don't know how much gas RJ has in the tank and we hope he can continue to entertain us for a very long time. The man has certainly earned a happy retirement and I wish him well whatever decision he makes.

Poll

Who would you like to see as the next Sabres play-by-play man?

Pete Weber

22 votes

Randy Moller

18 votes

Mark Jeanneret

12 votes

Curt Keilback

13 votes

Someone else (please specify)

11 votes

No one! RJ will have his brain placed in an android body

64 votes

140 votes | Poll has closed

Schumer and Gillibrand warn NHL over potential Coyotes move to S. Ontario

Calvert — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:17:45 -0000

Schumer and Gillibrand warn NHL over potential Coyotes move to S. Ontario

"The Buffalo Sabres are synonymous with Western New York," said Senator Gillibrand. "Moving a new team to Southern Ontario would not only hurt the Sabres, but would be detrimental to Western New York's economy and the devoted Buffalo Sabres fans who are so loyal to their beloved team. The Sabres are crucial to Western New York's way of life. I am committed to working with Senator Schumer to do everything we can to keep the Sabres successful right here in Buffalo."

What the Governor said...

Calvert — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:43:11 -0000

On WGR Radio, Governor Paterson said, "I have a relationship with Commissioner Goodell and he told me that if things ever get bad [about the Bills leaving], he will call me. He hasn't called me yet."

My questions to my fellow Rumblers are:

A: Is Paterson credible on this issue? If Paterson is telling the truth, is Goodell?

B: If Goodell told him that the Bills were moving to Toronto or somewhere else, what would Paterson do? What could he do?

C: What precisely is the nature of the "relationship" between Goodell and Paterson? Who first sought the other out and why?

D: As Paterson is a life-long downstater, would he use the same sort of regionalist bias towards NYC as many other state political figures have over the last century and actively antagonize upstate? As a Democrat, he can more safely risk alienating upstate and still win election than a Republican or Independent could. Would he do so in this instance?

E: Would Paterson use state funds (presumably by helping to fund a new stadium) to help keep the Bills in Buffalo should the league threaten to move the team?

Discuss.

Connolly signs 2-year $9m deal with Sabres

Calvert — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:00:53 -0000

Connolly signs 2-year $9m deal with Sabres

Calgary radio station parodies Oilers after 10-2 loss to Sabres {Edit 1/31/09 4:07PM} This...

Calvert — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:21:09 -0000

Calgary radio station parodies Oilers after 10-2 loss to Sabres

{Edit 1/31/09 4:07PM} This was too funny to leave off the site. I'm sorry to any Oilers fans that may be checking this out but it is hilarious.

Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics

Calvert — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:26:42 -0000

In virtually every review of the failures of the 07-08 Buffalo Sabres that I have read, we keep hearing the same story: the departure of Drury and Briere killed the franchise and the team couldn't win because there was too great a gap in the offense.

Or was it?

When comparing the difference between the 06-07 Sabres and the 07-08 Sabres the obvious difference was the departure of Drury and Briere. Indeed, Drury's ability to score in the clutch was a great loss and Hecht was the only player who could even attempt to fill that role. Their leadership and their offensive production was hard to replace and seeing the men in blue and gold drop from the President's Trophy winner to out of the playoffs, it is easy for pundits to point the obvious finger, proclaim that is the problem and then blissfully go away and focus on another team. However, the situation is a little more complicated than that and all you have to do is to do a ranking comparison to see why.

The 06-07 Sabres were 1st overall in goals scored and 13th overall in goals against.
The 07-08 Sabres were 4th overall in goals scored and 22nd overall in goals against.

Now it takes either a certain amount of chutzpah or a profound amount of gross ignorance to say that when a team is 4th in the league in goals scored but 22nd in goals against that the team's primary problems are in the offensive zone. The biggest difference between the 06-07 offensive numbers and the 07-08 offensive numbers is that goal production league-wide was down by about 9%. That is an enormous drop yet in every review I have seen of the Sabres performance last year, this league-wide drop was not even mentioned once. Do you not think that a 9% drop in goals scored league-wide would have a significant impact on offensive productivity comparisons from one season to the next? It mysteriously escaped notice by the people who are paid to notice such things.

But because of that, we have neglected what was truly the core of the Sabres problems last season.

Biron/Conklin was a far, far, far superior backup goaltender combination to Thibault.
Because Thibault was so utterly unreliable, Miller was overused and his production went significantly downhill.

Now we hope that the signing of Lalime will help solve that, presuming that he can play at something remotely resembling the level that we Sabres fans all knew and hated him for when he was wearing the red and black of the Senators. If he cannot, then we are looking at a repeat of last season.

Miller's poor play last season is the 300 pound gorilla in the door that no one wants to see. He is the only marketable star on a team that is effectively starless. He is a fan favorite but you simply cannot be considered a top goaltender in this league while your team is in the bottom third of the league in goals against. It is ridiculous. Miller has got to start showing some of the skills that made him such a desirable and marketable player in the first place. If he doesn't, the Sabres should start exploring how quickly Enroth can be made NHL-ready.

Marshawn Lynch poses for the camera during the Jacksonville game. US Presswire photo taken from...

Calvert — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 20:26:11 -0000

Marshawn Lynch poses for the camera during the Jacksonville game.

US Presswire photo taken from Yahoo!'s "Shutdown Corner"

Sabres sign Gaustad to 4yr extension

Calvert — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:38:59 -0000

Sabres sign Gaustad to 4yr extension

Paul Gaustad signs a 4 year extension worth $9.2 million