Where Is Rob Ray?

[bob_sauve28]

Any news? 

[pastajoe]

He’s on vacation.

[bob_sauve28]

1 minute ago, pastajoe said:

He’s on vacation.

No way? Is that true? 

[Brawndo]

There is a rumor that his son was seriously injured in a skiing accident and he is taking time off to be with him 

[Stoner]

6 minutes ago, Brawndo said:

There is a rumor that his son was seriously injured in a skiing accident and he is taking time off to be with him 

That's awful if true. I don't know why Marty would joke about seeing Rob in the crowd tonight.

[Indabuff]

Also,  why is Kaleta up in there?

[pastajoe]

4 minutes ago, Indabuff said:

Also,  why is Kaleta up in there?

Because Marty is filling in for Ray, and Kaleta works in the Sabres organization as a youth hockey ambassador, and coaches the Jr Sabres U13 team. So he’s available and on the payroll.

[PromoTheRobot]

30 minutes ago, pastajoe said:

Because Marty is filling in for Ray, and Kaleta works in the Sabres organization as a youth hockey ambassador, and coaches the Jr Sabres U13 team. So he’s available and on the payroll.

He's got to learn to speak in a "TV voice." 

[LTS]

whatever it is.. I hope it's nothing too serious and in fact.. being on vacation would be a really good thing.

[msw2112]

Ray seems like a good guy, but honestly, I think Biron is a better color guy.  My only issue with Biron (and it's a big one) is that he is not a native English speaker, so his English is highly accented and slightly hard to follow at times, but I like his analysis and his tone better than Ray's.  Ray also needs to buy some new shirts and/or longer ties.  Being that he's on television, the least he could do is button his top button and properly tie his tie.  Alternatively, just don't wear a tie.  It's 2024 (and almost 2025), so a tie is not necessarily required, but if you're going to wear one, wear it properly and don't look sloppy on camera.  It shocks me that the producers of the broadcast don't say something to correct this.  The Sabres are bush-league enough, no need to make it worse with something that's so easy to fix.

But hey, they had a big win last night and got the monkey off their backs.  Should make for a more enjoyable holiday for the team and the fans.

Edited Tuesday at 04:40 PM by msw2112

[Doohicksie]

Who was the other guy that was in the studio besides Kaleta?

(for one of the other games)

Edited Tuesday at 04:53 PM by Doohicksie

[SwampD]

9 minutes ago, Doohicksie said:

Who was the other guy that was in the studio besides Kaleta?

(for one of the other games)

Kris Baker.

[mjd1001]

1 hour ago, msw2112 said:

Ray seems like a good guy, but honestly, I think Biron is a better color guy.  My only issue with Biron (and it's a big one) is that he is not a native English speaker, so his English is highly accented and slightly hard to follow at times, but I like his analysis and his tone better than Ray's. 

I have a lot of trouble with accents at times.

A bit off topic....

I don't know what it is, but for me its the English/Irish/Scottish accent.  I can understand people with southern accents, even really really deep ones. I get the NY accent, the Boston accent gives me zero issue. Even some people who had Spanish or French as their first language and then learn English and its a bit broken (like Biron), I can understand.

But for some reason, some NATIVE English speakers from England/Ireland/Scotland, I can't even follow them in a regular conversation.

If you watch F1 races, I can normally understand the guys, but some words I have to stop and think about for a moment. However, there is a female (I think named Bernie Collins?), Sometimes I can figure out what she said with context, other times, I literally have no idea what she said even though she is speaking English. She might as well be speaking a different language.

My wife was watching a show just last night streaming when I was watching the Sabres game, it was some Briritish spy show, the actors were all British and since it took place in Great Britain were using their natural accent. When I checked in on here during intermissions, I guess I COULD understand what they were saying, but at times I had to stop and slow down my brain to think about it.  My wife, she had zero problem at all though.

I do notice the same thing with music. Put on Rock or Alternative music (that I grew up listening to), it could be an obscure song by Motley Crue, Foo Fighters, pretty much every metal or alternative band I can hear every word crystal clear and my wife is like "what did he say?". But she grew up listening to pop and rap....she'll listen to a rap/hip hop song and knows every single word and I seriously can't even make out a full sentence of what they are saying.

In short regarding Biron, I notice his accent but it doesn't bother me too much. Maybe after all these years I'm just used to it with him.

[WNY Sabres]

Patrick Kaleta is "ya' know" new to the "ya' know" broadcast booth and "ya' know" has to break some bad "ya' know" habits. Hopefully, practice makes "ya' know" perfect. Or, at least "ya' know" this habit "ya' know" stop 

[Jorcus]

1 hour ago, msw2112 said:

Ray seems like a good guy, but honestly, I think Biron is a better color guy.  My only issue with Biron (and it's a big one) is that he is not a native English speaker, so his English is highly accented and slightly hard to follow at times, but I like his analysis and his tone better than Ray's.  Ray also needs to buy some new shirts and/or longer ties.  Being that he's on television, the least he could do is button his top button and properly tie his tie.  Alternatively, just don't wear a tie.  It's 2024 (and almost 2025), so a tie is not necessarily required, but if you're going to wear one, wear it properly and don't look sloppy on camera.  It shocks me that the producers of the broadcast don't say something to correct this.  The Sabres are bush-league enough, no need to make it worse with something that's so easy to fix.

But hey, they had a big win last night and got the monkey off their backs.  Should make for a more enjoyable holiday for the team and 

Biron is way better. It also helps that he is in the booth and able to see the whole ice. When Ray is between the benches it should be as a third person on the broadcast. He is very repetitive in commentary. 

I hope things turn out ok for him whatever is going on.

 

[Broken Ankles]

27 minutes ago, WNY Sabres said:

Patrick Kaleta is "ya' know" new to the "ya' know" broadcast booth and "ya' know" has to break some bad "ya' know" habits. Hopefully, practice makes "ya' know" perfect. Or, at least "ya' know" this habit "ya' know" stop 

Marty is better suited to be a color analyst for the Sabres.  Much more insightful than Ray.  I would actually prefer he replace Ray. That said, with Birons’ absence from the pre/post game show, the bench is weak.  Is Kaleta the best you can do?  Gionta unavailable or doesn’t want to drive down the 90?  Nothing against Baker, but he never played so unless he is replacing the cackler, no thanks. 

[PerreaultForever]

20 hours ago, Brawndo said:

There is a rumor that his son was seriously injured in a skiing accident and he is taking time off to be with him 

I saw this rumor too, but one would have to assume the broadcast team would know if this was true right? They would have said something. Marty made a joke about the Grinch guy in the stands being Rob in a costume and I cannot believe Marty would do that if Rob was off seeing his injured child. That would make no sense at all. 

But, objectively speaking, Marty was much much better in the role. Much better. 

[PerreaultForever]

4 hours ago, Broken Ankles said:

Marty is better suited to be a color analyst for the Sabres.  Much more insightful than Ray.  I would actually prefer he replace Ray. That said, with Birons’ absence from the pre/post game show, the bench is weak.  Is Kaleta the best you can do?  Gionta unavailable or doesn’t want to drive down the 90?  Nothing against Baker, but he never played so unless he is replacing the cackler, no thanks. 

They should spend the money and expand the team by one. Let Marty do the colour commentary, keep Kaleta, and let Rob play a Bissonette type role in the intermissions and pre and post being the loud mouthed joker and comic relief guy. He could give out awards, do hit of the night, the bad stuff could be Razor's Rejects, they could make it much more entertaining very easily. Sabres need to add as much entertainment as they can. 

[Doohicksie]

On 12/24/2024 at 11:03 AM, SwampD said:

Kris Baker.

Never heard of him.

[JustOneParade]

23 hours ago, WNY Sabres said:

Patrick Kaleta is "ya' know" new to the "ya' know" broadcast booth and "ya' know" has to break some bad "ya' know" habits. Hopefully, practice makes "ya' know" perfect. Or, at least "ya' know" this habit "ya' know" stop 

Many years ago I had to give a lengthy deposition. Shortly thereafter I had to read the written transcript. I was stunned at how much I said that without realizing it. Became much more conscious of it thereafter and made an effort to stop saying it. Would help Kaleta a lot to see his dialogue written out.

[JustOneParade]

I truly hope it is not a serious matter with him or his family. But when he disappeared without explanation my first thought was he decided, and let it be known, that he was no longer going to try to ‘polish that turd’ on the air. Then was subsequently told to take some time off to think about it.

In all likelihood it’s probably something less juicy than that though.

[mudberry]

7 hours ago, JustOneParade said:

Many years ago I had to give a lengthy deposition. Shortly thereafter I had to read the written transcript. I was stunned at how much I said that without realizing it. Became much more conscious of it thereafter and made an effort to stop saying it. Would help Kaleta a lot to see his dialogue written out.

I had a professor give me that same advice after watching me speak in front of a classroom full of students. Had no idea I said that so much

[PromoTheRobot]

7 hours ago, JustOneParade said:

Many years ago I had to give a lengthy deposition. Shortly thereafter I had to read the written transcript. I was stunned at how much I said that without realizing it. Became much more conscious of it thereafter and made an effort to stop saying it. Would help Kaleta a lot to see his dialogue written out.

That's called an aircheck session for broadcasters. You have to listen to what you sound like to make improvements. It can be a painful experience.

[Jorcus]

8 hours ago, Doohicksie said:

Never heard of him.

He does a good job keeping an eye on the Sabres prospects. He has a website and podcast at Sabresprospects.com

[Doohicksie]

2 hours ago, Jorcus said:

He does a good job keeping an eye on the Sabres prospects. He has a website and podcast at Sabresprospects.com

 Actually I probably have heard of him, but I'm not as plugged into all the local social media/blogs/etc. as some are on this forum.