MJ vs. Hamilton

[Marvelo]

So I heard MJ play-by-play call the last couple games and he was decent although a bit monotone and not totally convincing. How about trying out Hamilton? He's a bit peculiar but as knowledgeable about the Sabres as anyone. I want RJ to stay forever but...now that he's on vacation is a good time to put a few guys to trial for this most important job. And (for the new ownership should we be so lucky) let the fans decide by voting.

[repster]

My vote goes to Dan Dunleavy. He did some play by play last season and I liked him best out of everyone that was tried out. Hamilton was OK but I like his reporting and opinions too much to lose him in his present capacity.

[Stoner]

My vote goes to Dan Dunleavy. He did some play by play last season and I liked him best out of everyone that was tried out. Hamilton was OK but I like his reporting and opinions too much to lose him in his present capacity.

 

Was Dan Dunleavy the "Hecht to Pominville, whose mother ironically made him a German chocolate cake on his 13th birthday, followed by a skate party, and Pominville fires it into the crest of the goalie" guy?

[tom webster]

My vote goes to Dan Dunleavy. He did some play by play last season and I liked him best out of everyone that was tried out. Hamilton was OK but I like his reporting and opinions too much to lose him in his present capacity.

 

 

Hamilton sucks as a reporter and opinion guy but would be an excellent play by play choice.

[Weave]

My vote goes to Dan Dunleavy. He did some play by play last season and I liked him best out of everyone that was tried out. Hamilton was OK but I like his reporting and opinions too much to lose him in his present capacity.

 

Hamilton sucks as a reporter and opinion guy but would be an excellent play by play choice.

 

If Hamilton does play by play that means he is a Sabres employee. His credibility as a reporter would be totally lost if he continued to do both. I like his POV as a reporter. But I also thought he did a decent job as PBP. But I think there are plenty of PBP options out there whereas another hockey reporter with good leads and contacts would be damned hard to replace.

[Rico7]

Some years ago they had the Rochester PBP guy fill in. I always thought he would be a good replacement.

[carpandean]

Some years ago they had the Rochester PBP guy fill in. I always thought he would be a good replacement.

Don Stevens. Yeah, I like his voice, too. Setting aside the broken affiliation, he's only 5 years younger than RJ and has already spent 40+ years doing radio/TV broadcasts.

[Stoner]

Don Stevens. Yeah, I like his voice, too. Setting aside the broken affiliation, he's only 5 years younger than RJ and has already spent 40+ years doing radio/TV broadcasts.

 

Sounds a lot like the Whalers/Hurricanes voice Chuck Kaiton.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA779eJ5SVU

[Stoner]

Some years ago they had the Rochester PBP guy fill in. I always thought he would be a good replacement.

 

Filled in for Rick? I don't remember that -- not saying it didn't happen.

 

I always thought a list of all-time Sabres broadcasters, including analysts and intermission hosts and the like, would be very useful. And what station they were on.

 

I'm still puzzled by references to Dave Hodge as the first TV voice of the Sabres. He did just one season. That would put Ted Darling on radio, and I don't think that's right. I bet Paul Wieland could clear this up -- if only he had an email address. :)

[repster]

Was Dan Dunleavy the "Hecht to Pominville, whose mother ironically made him a German chocolate cake on his 13th birthday, followed by a skate party, and Pominville fires it into the crest of the goalie" guy?

 

No, that was Steve Kouleas who, ironically, has been let go by The Score network in Canada. I always found him really odd and he really over the top with his Sabres broadcast last year.

[Rico7]

Filled in for Rick? I don't remember that -- not saying it didn't happen.

 

I always thought a list of all-time Sabres broadcasters, including analysts and intermission hosts and the like, would be very useful. And what station they were on.

 

I'm still puzzled by references to Dave Hodge as the first TV voice of the Sabres. He did just one season. That would put Ted Darling on radio, and I don't think that's right. I bet Paul Wieland could clear this up -- if only he had an email address. :)

 

I am a bit foggy on it, but I am pretty sure it is before RJ was doing TV, in between Darling and Gurtler. It was only for a game or 2.

[repster]

Dunleavy called the Anaheim game last year and will call the Ottawa game on January 25th. He does the play by play for Team Canada at the Olympics or the World Juniors on the Fan 590.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Dunleavy

 

I just liked his style. It sounded professional and not contrived. He actually knew what he was talking about as well. So, if you want a sample before he calls the Ottawa game, listen to some of the Canada games. I like Hamilton as a reporter probably because he's the beat guy that knows the ins and outs of the team and the players better than anyone else. He can be both positive or negative when deserved. He can call out Regier for Connolly, call out Ruff for not using goalies properly, call out Roy for not listening etc. Don't know why anyone wouldn't appreciate Hamilton and the job he does - sorry TW.

[spndnchz]

My vote goes to Dan Dunleavy. He did some play by play last season and I liked him best out of everyone that was tried out. Hamilton was OK but I like his reporting and opinions too much to lose him in his present capacity.

 

Dan Dunleavy is calling the Ottawa game on Jan 25th.

 

edit: what rep said.

[flascott]

MJ sucks. That is the worse hockey voice I have ever heard. It is bad enough having to watch the Sabres play the way they do but if i had to listen to that crap every game I would for sure cancel Center Ice.

[SDS]

On the goal calls, Mark sounds exactly like his dad!

 

After sucking in a balloon full of helium.

[Stoner]

MJ sucks. That is the worse hockey voice I have ever heard. It is bad enough having to watch the Sabres play the way they do but if i had to listen to that crap every game I would for sure cancel Center Ice.

 

Yeah, it's hard to imagine people saving his calls as souvenirs of Sabres moments, or imitating him (in a positive way the way most of us do Rick). Still, damn, he calls a good game. He doesn't miss a darn thing.

[biodork]

Yeah, it's hard to imagine people saving his calls as souvenirs of Sabres moments, or imitating him (in a positive way the way most of us do Rick). Still, damn, he calls a good game. He doesn't miss a darn thing.

 

I agree - he's not nearly as much fun to listen to (and hopefully that would improve as he goes along), but he does a very good job of covering the action, particularly for the radio crowd.

[Stoner]

I agree - he's not nearly as much fun to listen to (and hopefully that would improve as he goes along), but he does a very good job of covering the action, particularly for the radio crowd.

 

He's 42 and has been doing games at a lower level for many years. This is what he has to offer. That said, I almost wish we had heard the MJ from some of his YouTube clips, where he went a litte nutty. He probably was self conscious about doing it in his first shot in the NHL, or maybe out of deference for the situation didn't want to appear to be angling too hard for the job.

[biodork]

He's 42 and has been doing games at a lower level for many years. This is what he has to offer. That said, I almost wish we had heard the MJ from some of his YouTube clips, where he went a litte nutty. He probably was self conscious about doing it in his first shot in the NHL, or maybe out of deference for the situation didn't want to appear to be angling too hard for the job.

 

Again, I agree -- I meant that hopefully more of his personality would come through as he became more comfortable (if he got the job), not that he's new to broadcasting. I'll admit I never heard him call a game prior to Monday night, so I have no way of knowing if this is what he always sounds like.

[PromoTheRobot]

Hamilton sucks as a reporter and opinion guy but would be an excellent play by play choice.

It's amazing how bad he is at reporting and great he is at PBP. I vote Paul.

 

PTR

[fiftyone]

He sounds a lot like an auctioneer calling the game, pretty monotonous and fast paced. Like others have said, his call of the game was detailed, but I couldn't get into it. He seemed to try to imitate Rick in the goal calls, which I didn't think was a success.

[bunomatic]

On the goal calls, Mark sounds exactly like is dad!

 

After sucking in a balloon full of helium.

 

 

I've been trying to articulate how his goal call sounds to no avail and you've just summed it up perfectly. Thank you.

But with a warble?

[Marvelo]

Here's a good new interview with Rick: http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wbfo/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1742718/WBFO.News/A.conversation.with.Rick.Jeanneret.

 

Not too much new...he still despises the travel.