Finally, a real Golisano interview
In the interest of full disclosure, Tom Golisano has stopped returning calls from Buffalo News sports writers. He doesn't call me, Bucky Gleason, Jerry Sullivan ... nor anyone who has left messages at his private number numerous times since last summer. He has never gotten over a column in which Golisano, Larry Quinn and Darcy Regier were referred to as the Three Stooges. It was hardly a harsh insult -- and as Sully admitted, hardly an original one -- but it appears it hurt him deeply.
It's more of a disservice to you than an inconvenience to us. Since all of us have been around the Sabres on a daily basis longer than the owner, we know what's going on whether he calls or not thanks to our hockey knowledge, sources and friends. We have the insider information you want and deserve.
Where it hurts you is the public doesn't get direct answers from the owner. That sort of stopped once he learned of a recent column going into The News. Since then, he has held a chat on a game broadcast, went on the team's flagship radio station and called an Associated Press reporter (who also had been ignored for months despite repeated calls -- as if finally returning his call would be taken as a shot at us).
But the important issues remained unanswered, primarily because he faced questions such as this: "Tom, what are you doing away from the rink? How you staying active?"
That changed Saturday. Elliotte Friedman, the talented CBC hockey reporter, sat down with the owner for an in-depth chat. It was great to see Elliotte ask the real questions. Now some of the answers could use additional analysis.
On the issue of whether the team could have signed Daniel Briere and Chris Drury before they became free agents, Golisano told CBC: "I don't know if anybody in the know really agrees with that. There was no contract negotiations of any extent where somebody was going to put their name on the line. Yeah, there was some conversation. But there was nothing significant."
Well, I am in the know. I know the Drury camp thought it had reached a significant deal. Drury was ready to put his name on the line -- and so were we. It's why the story of Drury and his failed contract was written by me, Tim Graham and Bucky, a triple byline that showed we did our homework.
Golisano also said it was "hard to believe" the players would accept less money earlier than they got later. It's not that hard to believe, and Brian Campbell alluded to it. Anything can happen in hockey. One bad shift can end a career. Hockey contracts are guaranteed. If you can get a long-term deal worth tens of millions, you take it and play with a free mind knowing you and your family are set for life.
The owner also said the Sabres were and are "as close to the cap as we can be." They deserve credit for last season, when they spent to the limit. They made their run and spent every dollar they could. They are not close this year. Several estimates in recent weeks, including this one, show they are in the bottom third of the NHL in terms of cap numbers and have significant room to add salaries.
As Mike Harrington said, one comment from Golisano could become his "tools to finish the job" misstep (or legacy-enhancer). The owner told Elliotte the Sabres are willing to sign and keep their A-1 players, including Ryan Miller next year. "The proof will be in the pudding," Golisano said.
Keep that quote in your mind.
---John Vogl
No problem David.
The problem with the CBA of the NHL is creating the same disadvantages as with the NFL. Its not a matter of how much or how long the contract is, it more about upfront money. That 10 million this year can be spread evenly throughout the contract for the cap. Galisano is not stupid to get to his position (financially that is). Without significantly raising ticket prices, he cannot effectively doll out those bigtime contracts.
Plus not since Hasek have we ever had a player that would garner such a deal.
Posted by: CuJO | March 04, 2008 at 12:16 PM
Like Philly Mark mentioned, the Gleason article basically had Roy as a throw in and DIDN'T mention Campbell! Where's the foresight! He also said to sell off Spacek for anything since it was such a terrible signing. Under Bucky's plan, we would have locked up all those guys at extremely low prices, but I'm not sure what his plan would be when Miller and Pominville had their contracts up. Also, his plan didn't foresee Hecht getting a raise. It's really comical when you think about it. Bucky's plan, which had him locking up Briere, Drury, and Vanek for a combined $13 mill per season, didn't factor in Roy, Hecht, Campbell, or Miller.....and he was still pressed against the cap!!!
Posted by: Hambone Johnson | March 04, 2008 at 09:12 AM
David-
I remember that Gleason article (which I don't think is available online anymore, unfortunately (perhaps fortunately for Bucky))- didn't he have Roy down for $700,000?? Considering that, in reality, it took $4 million per season to lock up Roy, I can't really take Gleason's article that seriously.
Posted by: Philly Mark | March 04, 2008 at 08:55 AM
CuJO-
Sorry, my responses were directed to your posting. Not JD.
Posted by: DAVID IN BALTIMORE | March 04, 2008 at 08:35 AM
JD -
Golisano may not be spending AT the cap... but he probably is significantly not far from it. The Union will not let him be too far from it. Last year one of the writers (I think Gleason) outlined a way they could spend just under the CURRENT cap and keep the big names. It was not an unreasonable plan. It did involve trading away some lesser performers (at the time it was Kallinen and Maxim)for prospects and draft choices. But building around a few really good star quality players was not an unreasonable idea. Even the wealthy teams can't go over the cap, so there may not be a big salary spread (on a per season basis)between the wealthy teams and small market teams. Some of the highest paid players play for small market teams with less robust financials than the Sabres... Ovechkin is locked up long term in Washington, and Crosby in Pittsburgh. A nucleus of decent players has been assembled around them. Maybe I am wrong - but I don't see other GMs standing around watching their teams loose good plyers and getting nothing in return. Maybe the other owners have deeper pockets. Pittsburgh and Washington do not sell out. Their revenues are BELOW the Sabres. Those teams loose fistfuls of money. But their GMs do not sit back and act helpless as players of high calibre walk away. According to sources, the per season pay level for Campbell was not the issue. It was the # of years, 3 vs 5. If we could go 3 years on a 27 year old defenseman, we could go 5 years and the per season salary would not significantly change vis a vis the Cap. And we could sign these guys sooner, as other teams do, before they hit the market. The rules and the cap are the same for ALL the teams. If we can't spend to the cap, we could still be doing the long term contract thing. Even less wealthy small market tems are doing that. Recent Stanley Cup winners are NOT the 10 wealthiest teams in the league...
Posted by: DAVID IN BALTIMORE YET AGAIN | March 04, 2008 at 08:33 AM
JD -
Are you looking at Forbes MOST RECENT article?
According to Forbes, the Sabres are 19th in revenues... not 30th. That means they are not, by far, the poorest small market team in the league.
See
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2007/31/biz_07nhl_NHL-Team-Valuations_Revenue.html
Some of the teams we have lost players to are also "small market" or so-called poor teams. Clearly the Flyers and Rangers, beneficiaries of Briere and Drury, are two large market, wealthy teams... but San Jose, St.Louis, and Nashville (Brier, McKee, Dumont)? I don't think so. THe Sabres rank ahead of those three teams in value AND profitability. Look at the charts.
Posted by: DAVID IN BALTIMORE AGAIN | March 04, 2008 at 06:51 AM
Once upon a time this newspaper had class.
Posted by: JD | March 04, 2008 at 02:14 AM
From Forbes:
"Without question, the biggest beneficiaries of the new CBA are small-market teams. Last season, 11 low-revenue NHL teams received more than $90 million in revenue-sharing payments (the proceeds came from the ten teams with the highest revenue and from a portion of playoff gate receipts), with the New York Rangers and Toronto Maple Leafs chipping in $10 million each. The only reason why the Buffalo Sabres, Pittsburgh Penguins, San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals posted profits last season was because of the money they received from revenue-sharing."
Can't blame Galisano for not spending to the cap. You do not keep increasing costs on player salaries without significantly increasing revenue. We should all be thankful we have low ticket prices.
This team will never be a profit generator within this region.
btw..Funny little quote form Quinn a little over a year ago,
"Right now, and I'm knocking on wood, we are in first place," Quinn says. "And in the last three years, we have walked away from Alexei Zhitnik, Miroslav Satan, J.P. Dumont, Rory Fitzpatrick, Jay McKee and J.P. Dumont. If you went to our fans two years ago and said we would be missing all of those players, all of our fans would have said we'd be in last place. Our fans and media are getting educated."
Posted by: CuJO | March 03, 2008 at 11:39 PM
People can argue about all the players that left, and I miss many of them as well... Sure I would have liked to have kept many more of them, and you can't keep all of them... but it just seems we (the Sabres) NEVER try to lock up elite players, and most of the other teams either manage to lock them up or make some pretty good replacement pickups... and other teams are able to retool and become competitive again fairly quickly. In fact, some of these teams loose elite or solid players and then manage to RE-ACQUIRE them later - Hasek in Detroit, Blake, Foote, for example. We never seem to do that either.. altho we could have gotten Peca back but Regier never seriously entertained it - and frankly as much as Peca was a leader he seems to have lost something. But now that Regier understands what it would take to get Campbell back, and knowing that he is fair game on July 1, it would be nice for Sabre upper management to forget the false stubborn pride that keeps them from going after lost players and try to re-acquire himand aggresively go after one or two others... maybe a trade or two. Show us they want to build a winner again.. In 2 years we have lost 3 consensus all-stars with little to show for it... I take some consolation from the fact that none of the guys we lost (other than Hasek - but the Wings probably would have won anyway) has led his new team to a Stanley Cup - or even come close (well - maybe Peca with Edmonton 2 yrs ago came close)... but for all who think losing Grier, Dumont, McKee (etc) was bad for us / good for them - not one of them has exactly torn up the league since leaving the Sabres... in fact - I would say quite a few of them are having very average careers, languishing in non-hockey towns playing for teams that are going nowhere. I give Regier and the upper managers a lot of credit for finding and developing young hockey players, many of whom seem to like playing here, but I fault them for not finding a way to keep them. It has nothing to do with being a small market team charging low ticket prices... I am sure that with our building selling out and with the outstanding popular support the team enjoys (merchandising, advertising) we are doing far better in the revenue production area than many teams not in traditional hockey markets who have attendance problems. EG - Washington has been losing money for years and has poor attendance - they have 2 for 1 promotions to sell tickets sometimes - but they knew they better lock up Ovechkin.
Posted by: DAVE-IN-BALTIMORE-LIFETIMESABREFAN | March 03, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Year after year Sabres and Bills fans give their money and heart in support to owners with false promises and optimism. Ralph Wilson Stadium and MSBC Arens are sold out for every game but it doesn't matter, it's only business. Grab your Vaseline and hold on tight as they will cash again this year on your devotion to the teams. Any Bills fan who purchases a ticket this season for one of the games in Toronto is the biggest fool.
Posted by: VEGAS SABRE FAN | March 03, 2008 at 06:11 PM
Plus having a team payroll at the cap will push ticket prices out of range for the average fan. The Sabres cannot pay big-market salaries and charge big-market prices because it is a small-market that is economically depressed. Just look at the declining population and job market.
Posted by: BV | March 03, 2008 at 05:54 PM
Great point, Hambone. I'd like to read Bucky Gleason's response to that.
Regardless of whether Drury would have signed for 25/5, Darcy should still get some credit for building such a great team.
Posted by: Philly Mark | March 03, 2008 at 05:33 PM
Harrington, Vogl, Gleason, Sullivan -- The Foolish Foursome. That was about as original as you schmucks/poor excuses for journalists are. I wish Golisano could have each of you barred from the press box. I love that he did an interview with the CBC and continues to shut the News out. It's fantastic.
Posted by: C | March 03, 2008 at 05:15 PM
People can argue about all the players that left, but at least take a minute to understand this: the 29 players on the 05-06 Sabres are making a combined $67 million this year. Think about that. That is $17 mill over the cap (that has gone up $11 mill since the 05-06 season). So for everyone crying about losing Mckee, Dumont, Grier, etc.....do you honestly think it was possible for everyone to stay? Face it - we had too many good players have breakout years at the same time. I'm not saying certain guys couldn't have been kept....but if they were, everyone would be crying that Roy, Hecht, and Vanek are doing great elsewhere.
Posted by: Hambone Johnson | March 03, 2008 at 04:23 PM
The game is hockey.....kids play it, adults play it, professional adults play it. It's just a game. A real fun game. I play it three times a week myself.
The trouble, now, and at the professional level, is this business aspect that has not only poked itself into the fun world of games but almost taken over it. This brings the hounds....the Press.
I read the Paul Hamilton post and I must say that until someone can respond to what he wrote that the Buffalo news look like kids. The first clue would have been the odd and overbearingly complimentary notes about one Elliot Freidman. I'm sorry. He is going place, I can truly see that, but I need a good reason to understand why. I have listened to this fella' since his 590 days and never truly understood the attraction. I guess I stand lonely on that subject. Still, that was the first clue to me that something was amiss here.
And then I read Mr Hamilton's comments. Please note that my likeness of his comments is closer to nil and none than anything else. In fact, I have sent emails to his station about some of his very strange comments. Still, his blog responds to all at Buffalo News perfectly. You all need to respond in kind or forever leave the impression that you all are a buncha' lil' boyz fighting in the sandlot....by yourselves......and.....PAUL HAMILTON (!?!?) is laughing at you as he steps out.
Mike, I missed your reply to my comment about Campbell's trade. Glad I did. You agreed like you already said what I did.....Smells like....this!
Posted by: Bster | March 03, 2008 at 02:16 PM
Imagine this timetable for the Buffalo Bills....
The Bills are on the brink of a SuperBowl, and look to have a roster that will be competitive for years to come if it stays in tact.
Year 1 - Shane Conlan, Kent Hull, Darryl Talley and Henry Jones are potential free agents. The Bills let Conlan and Hull walk for nothing, Talley wins an arbitration award but the Bills don't match and let him walk, and Jones is traded for a 4th round draft pick.
Year 2- The Bills just miss the SuperBowl, but still have tons of talent. This offseason Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas are free agents. The Bills don't even contact Thomas' agent, and Kelly leaves town to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fans are outraged that the 2 best players on the Bills have been let go, so in a panic move, the Bills sign Bruce Smith to a huge contract that pays him $10 million in year one, and they sign Kieth McKellar to a 4 year $16 million contract.
Year 3- The Bills don't even make the playoffs, but Ralph Wilson comes out and says "Keeping our star players here is proof that I care about this team. Just wait and see when we resign Andree Reed and Cornelius Bennett."
Does anyone here think the Bills would have gone to 4 SuperBowls if this is what took place?
Tom Golisano's bad impression of Santa Claus leaves a bad taste in my mouth. His #1 Elf, Larry Quinn, is running around leaving coal in everyones' stockings and telling them it's candy. Lindy the Red Nosed Reindeer is having a tough time leading the sled when all the others only want to pull for 30 out of every 60 minutes. To top it all off, Darcy is in his gown and nightcap, brewing up a nice warm pot of milk for himself and Santa, and is hoping Santa like the cookies he gives him so Darcy can keep his job.
Three Stooges.....no.
The Grinch who stole Buffalo...YES!
Posted by: Tom | March 03, 2008 at 02:11 PM
Instead of getting into a pissing contest with members of the media, why don't you superfans direct some of your anger towards Golisano and Quinn?
Posted by: Mike Z | March 03, 2008 at 12:32 PM
It is not at all surprising that Tom Golisano will not talk to the Buffalo News. Having read a lot of the Buffalo News coverage in the last 10 months. When you put aside the one note samba and namecalling, there really isn't much journalism.
Here is a challenge to all writers covering the Sabres at the Buffalo News. Try to write a single column or article that does not mention Chris Drury or Daniel Briere. Or anything about last offseason for that matter. From what I have read it cannot be done.
Dump the vitriol directed at the front office and maybe your calls will be returned. Get over your "Woodward and Bernstein" fantasies about breaking something huge.
No matter how many unprofessionally whiny columns and articles are written, Drury and Briere will not return. They are gone. Get over it. Most Sabres fans have. This is the team we have. Move on.
Posted by: Mike M. | March 03, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Buffalo is not a small market and the news is not small-time? Can I have what you're smoking? You're a riot. Last one out of Buffalo please turn out the lights. Don't you have to get cracking on your little league blog?
If you are going to criticize everyone else, expect the same and quit whining about it when it comes in your direction. Who would care about what the "journalism world" has to say about TBN. Your profession is a joke!!! You guys win contests? Woo Hoo. My mom won a baking contest once and I won a bowling trophy. Big deal!!!
Personally I would sell the Bills and Sabres if I owned them and move them to Toronto and Hamilton just to spite you clowns. Then you can all sit there in the fall, winter and spring and stare at each other until little league baseball starts.
Posted by: RJJ | March 03, 2008 at 10:12 AM
Cujo: The DESIGN competition only was sponsored by Syracuse. The writing/section contest is by the Associated Press Sports Editors and is the nation's most prestigious for sports sections. I would agree with you that the writeup in the paper makes it look like BOTH were sponsored by Syracuse. If that last paragraph had been kept with the design info you would not have gotten that impression.
Keep in mind that virtually all contests are judged blindly, e.g. all paper names/bylines/credits are removed from clips when they're submitted so judges don't know what paper they're from. Eliminates any shred of regional bias you insinuate.
Posted by: Mike Harrington | March 02, 2008 at 11:40 PM
Nice try Mike
You say about the awards that the News one, well lets see who sponsered the competition:
"The competition was co-sponsored by SND and Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications"
Sounds like an unfair advantage that Buffalo even made the list since it is sponsered by Syracuse University. Buffalo is the largest metro in proximity to Syracuse.
And what about SND, well low and behold, the Program Director of the Best of Newspaper Design Creative Competition is:
C. Marshall Matlock, Associate Professor, Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY 13244-2100
Please reference something of value, that shows no bias towards the News.
Posted by: CuJO | March 02, 2008 at 10:52 PM
Speaking to J's point, I would pay a ton to witness this battle, maybe throw in a third party of Regier, Quinn, and Golisano, but they might end up assisting WGR and gang up on the Buffalo News staff, which could get rough.
article
Posted by: Hello Big Bear | March 02, 2008 at 10:50 PM
So for 5.6 million of cap space they were supposed to sign Drury and Briere? Am I reading the numbers wrong?
Posted by: s | March 02, 2008 at 10:45 PM
After reading Hamilton's article on the gr site, and reading this blog, do you think that the Buffalo News Sports Staff, and the GR Staff are gonna have a street brawl in Black Rock. It would be just like in Anchorman. Out of nowhere the sports staff from the Tonawanda News would come in too. John Vogl would through a trident at the Bulldog.
Posted by: J | March 02, 2008 at 10:42 PM
Mike - bragging about the News accolades is on par with a car with a bumper sticker that says, 'my child is an honor roll student'.
Posted by: Hambone Johnson | March 02, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Furious: BHatley's post was utterly ridiculous and cried out for factual correction. That's not sensitivity. That's setting the record straight. To consider the News small-time or in a small market is 100 percent against the way it's considered in the journalism world.
As for the WGR post, this is the first I've seen of it. But reading it I'll say this: PHam is a first-rate pro. He doesn't agree with everything we write, we don't agree with everything we hear on the radio. No problem there.
I can see him at the next day's practice and not be offended by what he says and he can do likewise. That's what being professional is all about. His opinion is certainly valid. It's just different than mine. Argue as they might, the fact the interview is on the team's flagship radio station colors everything they do no matter how well the on-air talent handles things. 'Nuff said.
Posted by: Mike Harrington | March 02, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Mike,
Do you have any response to what was posted on WGR550's website here:
http://www.wgr550.com/column.php?id=0605
I feel Schoop and the Bulldog did a fine interview as well with Golisano, but it looks like the Buffalo News disagrees, can we get your side of the story?
Posted by: WGR550 | March 02, 2008 at 10:12 PM
To the critics of the sportswriters: Let me know if they've changed the rules. This isn't reporting on the Little Sisters of the Poor. Little League youngsters...and umpires...make bad plays. It's all in good sports.
The rules for pro sports is: Hardball. Whether it's reporting on steroid use in baseball or a college basketball coach who has a zero graduation rate of his charges. When chin music is called for, a good reporter will throw it. The News has one of the top sports sections around. If they become just another PR arm of owners, they will lose the competitive edge. Sometimes they are off base, but they are in the pro game.
I'll make my own decisions, but I want the the curve balls as well, to make the decision makers know they will be on the carpet. Tom Golisano is a non-show right now. Let's hope he reads between the lines and changes.
Posted by: David, Amherst | March 02, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Mike – For somebody who makes a living out of criticizing others, it’s amazing how sensitive you get when criticism is directed at you. I also find it comical that you have to cite the accolades bestowed upon the News. If you have to tell us how good you are, then you’re obviously insecure about it. The product put out by the News should speak for itself. Unfortunately, that product is prepared by a group of writers with massive egos who try to pass their biased views as facts.
Posted by: Furious George | March 02, 2008 at 10:00 PM
Pardon me for laughing when I read the comment: "The boss always gets the last word." The press always gets the last word. And you better not insult or question them or they will crucify you like they have Golisano and J P Losman.
Posted by: Don H | March 02, 2008 at 09:27 PM
I feel like the Buffalo News is written by a bunch of thirteen-year-old girls. This isn't Watergate boys, and the Buffalo News is not the story. I've never heard so many reporters inject so much of their own ego into a story. The Buffalo News has so confused the issue with their "don't blame us for being so darn right all the time" crowing, that they have simply lost credibility in my opinion.
Posted by: Shush Bucky | March 02, 2008 at 07:47 PM
Wow John, don't separate a shoulder patting yourself on the back.
Posted by: Brag much? | March 02, 2008 at 05:52 PM
By the way. When the Sabres eventually move out of Buffalo you and the rest of the fans will be crying that there is no team. I love how you guys can slam the players and teams there, but when someone slams you, we're all idiots. By the way, Targzissians Are Obviously Reptilian in case you didn't know that.
Posted by: BHatley | March 02, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Mike,
You're writing for a newspaper in Hooterville. Get a grip.
Posted by: BHatley | March 02, 2008 at 05:40 PM
Thank you Mike Harrington! FYI to the Golisano/Quinn defenders: THEY said they would match Drury and Grier but both chose to lose, so that was not a money issue--it was a lack of sense of urgency(Drury) and a lack of commitment to a winning team(Grier). In other words: mismanagement at the top. It is silly even to have to explain that any player will take less guaranteed today when he might be injured or underperform in the future than he will take AFTER a successful campaign when ANY team can bid on his services. Is Mr Golisano kidding, or does he think we are all stupid? I have worked over 20 years for large corporations. This reeks to me of CEO-itis--the boss who always gets the last word, always gets his way, always tells the funniest jokes(just ask the sycophants that surround him), etc. He needs to understand that in pro sports, as in Hollywood, the players have at least as much leverage as the "boss". But deals are possible so long as this simple fact is borne in mind.
Posted by: cliff | March 02, 2008 at 05:20 PM
BHatley: The News is considered a major daily in the newspaper industry and the sports section has just received prominent national awards. http://www.buffalonews.com/sports/story/289565.html
Top-scale reporters are in the top 20 in salary among US dailies so your point there does not wash. And MOST cities except for very large ones have only one paper nowadays.
The idea that every city has multiple dailies is a talk-radio myth that continues to be hammered upon folks in Buffalo who don't know any better. Because of its status as a major daily, the News gets hundreds of applications a month from writers and is very selective. In fact, every member of the current sports staff has received multiple awards in state, national or in-their-sport writing contests.
Those are the facts. Where do you think all the Sabres talk you see quoted around the country, on the Internet and CBC gets generated from? It comes from the News.
In the hockey world and the journalism world, the owner's refusal to talk to The News is considered pure folly and a disservice to the fans. Here's what I tell everyone on this topic: You should be angry at the team and stop shooting the messenger. We didn't dismantle a Presidents' Trophy team. They did.
(Thanks to Tom and Dave below for understanding the big picture I'm talking about)
Posted by: Mike Harrington | March 02, 2008 at 05:05 PM
It's a sorry thing that what seems like Golisano's friends and family feel the need to protect him here. This is an honest update by John Vogl. Thank's John et al. It confirms that Golisano does not understand the business of hockey or sports, or entertainment for that matter. To not understand the impact of injury possibility in contract negotiations? What other blunders can be guessed....especially in Golisano's agreement with Quinn. They do not want to be questioned....hence no returned phone calls. Golisano's feeling can be hurt? The guy that said that is a dope. Anyone who gets in business will have hurt feelings. Get over it. W's count. Hurt feelings cause L's. And those that are just happy to have a team here? Sorry, your bar is set too low...and a reason teams and businesses get taken to the cleaners by ace players. The reporters are not expected to manage the franchise, but be their readers eyes and ears and with some interpretation based on experience. I will say the News and politicians were taken one time...when the Rigas empire did its nasty work. I saw what was happening but no one listened. Fool the reporters once, shame on the owner. Fool the reporters twice, shame on them. Good job, guys!
Posted by: David, Amherst | March 02, 2008 at 05:00 PM
You clowns at the News take yourself way too seriously. The problem in this country is lawyers and the media. You guys make stories out of nothingness and get people worked into a shoot over a GAME. But I guess you need to justify your jobs in some way. If any of you writers at the news were worth anything, you'd be making serious bucks in a real market with multiple newspapers and some competition. I lived in Buffalo for 37 years and doubled my salary moving away 10 years ago. Why wouldn't any of you aces do the same thing if you were so scary good at writing. That answer is pretty obvious. Keep up the good work at your "tabloid".
Posted by: BHatley | March 02, 2008 at 04:47 PM
The Buffalo News writers need to realize that operating a major sports team isn't as easy as they think it is. They act as if they were "experts" despite the fact they never spent a day at the front office. I just thank god every time I read their criticism of the Sabres that the writers don't run the team. There is no doubt in my mind that if the Buffalo News writers managed the team instead of Regier, the team would be in much worse shape. The Sabres have been doing very well the last 3 years despite being a small market team. The Maple Leafs fans are very envious of the fact that Sabres have had more success since the middle of 1990's. Hope Golisano, Regier, and Ruff stay with the team for many more years.
Posted by: Michael | March 02, 2008 at 03:48 PM
The actual number under the cap is $5.6 million. Also, by keeping their ticket prices low, the team maximizes their revenue sharing number, estimated to be around $10 million per year.
Posted by: Michael Czerwonka | March 02, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Golisano and team have provided competitive hockey as well as playoff teams. The fans are spoiled and the press is the press. Owners have feelings too.
Posted by: Don H | March 02, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Buffalo has the third lowest ticket prices in the league. We are $4 mill under a salary cap that went up a ridiculous $11 mill in two years. If you look at these numbers, it gives me little reason to complain about golisano. If he raised ticket prices and spent to the cap, people would be even more outraged.
Posted by: Hambone Johnson | March 02, 2008 at 03:24 PM
Keep the pressure on Tommy G, guys. All you people out there ripping on the News don't get it. They're the only ones in town calling the Stooges out and giving you the real story. Why do you think Tommy Boy wont talk to them? Because he knows they'll ask the real questions and they have the real info.
All you people ragging on Bucky don't get it. He's selling you the REAL story, not the garbage the Sabres want you to believe. We all should talk with our feet if Golisano lets Miller go. In my eyes, that's his last chance.
Posted by: Tom-Tonawanda | March 02, 2008 at 03:06 PM