I've had it!

[Stoner]

This has been brewing with me for most of the season. I, too, was caught up in the incredible start to the season and ate up the media attention that came with it. But it has continued on far too long, although it has started to subside a bit after the All-Star game and with the team's slide.

 

But today I'm seeing another story on Brian Campbell, and last night I saw the first in a series of player profiles on Channel 7 on how the players got their starts. It was on Danny Briere, and of course Danny himself was interviewed.

 

When is enough enough?

 

The publicity might be good for the Sabres, but they can't become any more popular than they already are. When does this PR avalanche start to hurt the team?

 

If I'm Darcy Regier, I start shutting it down right about now and get this team's head back where it belongs. Of course you can't tell a paper out West not to write a story about how there's "no rattling the Sabres" -- never get tired of that lovely cliche. But your media relations department can probably stop actively seeking out such attention. And hooking up the players, coaches, trainers and Sabretooth for interviews. Maybe it also would help if Lindy had a little talk with team and said to cool it.

 

Campbell's a good case in point. How many interviews do you think he has done this season about his "arrival" in the NHL? How many games has it been since he has played like an All Star? Twenty? Thirty? Coincidence?

 

I am wracking my brain over what's wrong with this team, and I can't find any better reason than the fact it's so young and getting so much undeserved praise and attention. I honestly believe it has gone to their heads, and I am starting to wonder if the Jack Adams Trophy and coaching in the All Star game also hasn't gone to Lindy's.

 

I'd like nothing more than to see this team get back under the radar, feel dissed and inadequate again. Unfortunately, I don't think, barring a total collapse, that they enter the playoffs other than the "favorites" to win the East.

 

With such a young team, with so much pressure to win, it's a recipe for disaster, IMHO.

[slapshot1619]

See Ottawa Senators 2006...

[Buffalo Tendencies]

Good point, I would like to think some of that is being held back. But also, these guys have worked their butt's off to get where they are and its time they get their due. I think its up to Ruff (and veterans) to keep it in check. It's a fine line and only time will tell....

[jerryg]

It's not all the teams fault-in fact they preoably aren't doing a lot to promote this. the Bills season has been over for 6 weeks, and now football season IS over. This is the time that hockey and the Sabres always get more attention. Now with the team (ahem) doing well all the media outlets are turning thier attention to them even more than in years past. If I'm the manager of a newspaper/tv/radio station I have nothing but minor league local college basketball to fill my local spports coverage...oh yeah, and the Bandits and the minor leage basketball team..what do you think I'm going to try to put on my shportscast every time I get a chance? The only solution for the team to stop this would be for Darcy and Lindy to issue an NO INTERVIEWS policy. That would go over well.

[Stoner]

The only solution for the team to stop this would be for Darcy and Lindy to issue an NO INTERVIEWS policy. That would go over well.

 

I really don't know what I'm talking about, but I would imagine you can't get access to a player without going through the team's media relations department. So if the team says the player is not available, that's the end of it. The player isn't even going to know. It achieves the same end as telling the players not to talk. The problem, if it is one, could also be solved if the 14th time some media outlet wants to interview Danny Briere about his Gatineau roots, he just says no. Enough.

[Bmwolf21]

Here I thought this was going to be a good rant, like the PR machine spinning the success and availability of the new jerseys...

 

I really don't know what I'm talking about, but I would imagine you can't get access to a player without going through the team's media relations department. So if the team says the player is not available, that's the end of it. The player isn't even going to know. It achieves the same end as telling the players not to talk. The problem, if it is one, could also be solved if the 14th time some media outlet wants to interview Danny Briere about his Gatineau roots, he just says no. Enough.

To deny interviews at game 55 of the regular season would be a public relations disaster for the team, and also would be damn near impossible. First, reporters would start chirping, and the league would make the Sabres make players available. If Lindy started telling the PR department to deny interview requests he could lose the respect and control of the players quickly. And denying the media access to the players would make them try even harder to get interviews with them - think of telling your 16-year-old daughter that she isn't allowed to date her boyfriend anymore. It just makes her want to see her even more.

 

I understand your frustration, but there isn't much you can do about the increased media attention. It's funny though, every other year we're complaining that the Sabres play second fiddle to the Bills, they don't get enough media attention, even from Buffalo media, and now you're complaining that it's too much attention...

[shrader]

Is there really anything positive going on in Buffalo worth talking about right now? Stories like these ones are probably one of the few things that keep people watching the local news.

[Taro T]

This has been brewing with me for most of the season. I, too, was caught up in the incredible start to the season and ate up the media attention that came with it. But it has continued on far too long, although it has started to subside a bit after the All-Star game and with the team's slide.

 

But today I'm seeing another story on Brian Campbell, and last night I saw the first in a series of player profiles on Channel 7 on how the players got their starts. It was on Danny Briere, and of course Danny himself was interviewed.

 

When is enough enough?

 

The publicity might be good for the Sabres, but they can't become any more popular than they already are. When does this PR avalanche start to hurt the team?

 

If I'm Darcy Regier, I start shutting it down right about now and get this team's head back where it belongs. Of course you can't tell a paper out West not to write a story about how there's "no rattling the Sabres" -- never get tired of that lovely cliche. But your media relations department can probably stop actively seeking out such attention. And hooking up the players, coaches, trainers and Sabretooth for interviews. Maybe it also would help if Lindy had a little talk with team and said to cool it.

 

Campbell's a good case in point. How many interviews do you think he has done this season about his "arrival" in the NHL? How many games has it been since he has played like an All Star? Twenty? Thirty? Coincidence?

 

I am wracking my brain over what's wrong with this team, and I can't find any better reason than the fact it's so young and getting so much undeserved praise and attention. I honestly believe it has gone to their heads, and I am starting to wonder if the Jack Adams Trophy and coaching in the All Star game also hasn't gone to Lindy's.

 

I'd like nothing more than to see this team get back under the radar, feel dissed and inadequate again. Unfortunately, I don't think, barring a total collapse, that they enter the playoffs other than the "favorites" to win the East.

 

With such a young team, with so much pressure to win, it's a recipe for disaster, IMHO.

You were? :unsure:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry PA, I just couldn't resist. ;) :w00t:

[bills_fan_in_raleigh]

Good point, I would like to think some of that is being held back. But also, these guys have worked their butt's off to get where they are and its time they get their due. I think its up to Ruff (and veterans) to keep it in check. It's a fine line and only time will tell....

they can get their due once we have hoisted the cup. Until than get back to playing hockey and away from distractions. The Canes are suffering same problems as Sabres but to a further degree. Also wondering if the old NHL is starting to creep back in and affecting the teams built on speed and finesse?

[inkman]

This has been brewing with me for most of the season. I, too, was caught up in the incredible start to the season and ate up the media attention that came with it. But it has continued on far too long, although it has started to subside a bit after the All-Star game and with the team's slide.

 

But today I'm seeing another story on Brian Campbell, and last night I saw the first in a series of player profiles on Channel 7 on how the players got their starts. It was on Danny Briere, and of course Danny himself was interviewed.

 

When is enough enough?

 

When I see TV news leading off with Grandma Jones and her cat stuck in the tree, I can stomach a little over the top Sabre gushing. Everyone wants all-Sabres, all the time and the newspapers/TV news shows are about attracting viewers, not keeping Soupy's ego in check.

 

I am wracking my brain over what's wrong with this team, and I can't find any better reason than the fact it's so young and getting so much undeserved praise and attention. I honestly believe it has gone to their heads, and I am starting to wonder if the Jack Adams Trophy and coaching in the All Star game also hasn't gone to Lindy's.

 

I'd like nothing more than to see this team get back under the radar, feel dissed and inadequate again. Unfortunately, I don't think, barring a total collapse, that they enter the playoffs other than the "favorites" to win the East.

 

Here is where a grizzled vet could come in and shake this up a bit. Unfotunatley, I don't think Darcy is going to do anything, latching desperately onto the hope of Timmy rescuing this team from despair.

[Stoner]

You were? :unsure:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sorry PA, I just couldn't resist. ;) :w00t:

 

Yes I was. But of course as soon as I started noticing I was caught up in it, I started fearing the inevitable other shoe. And it has indeed dropped! Repent sinners! The end is near!

 

 

Here I thought this was going to be a good rant, like the PR machine spinning the success and availability of the new jerseys...

 

 

To deny interviews at game 55 of the regular season would be a public relations disaster for the team, and also would be damn near impossible. First, reporters would start chirping, and the league would make the Sabres make players available. If Lindy started telling the PR department to deny interview requests he could lose the respect and control of the players quickly. And denying the media access to the players would make them try even harder to get interviews with them - think of telling your 16-year-old daughter that she isn't allowed to date her boyfriend anymore. It just makes her want to see her even more.

 

I understand your frustration, but there isn't much you can do about the increased media attention. It's funny though, every other year we're complaining that the Sabres play second fiddle to the Bills, they don't get enough media attention, even from Buffalo media, and now you're complaining that it's too much attention...

 

OK, you probably make a good point about the implausibility of denying interview requests. But can these requests be deterred? "You want Briere? His schedule is tight. How about 5 minutes the Tuesday after Ash Wednesday for five minutes?" :) It would help if the players got on board this effort. I would hope at this point maybe the players would even agree they have lost their focus and welcome the respite from all the attention.

 

Speaking of attention, it's not really the attention I am complaining about. It would be great to have all the attention and still be worthy of it. It's the loss of focus that I am complaining about, and I think it has something to do with all the side shows set up around this team -- the fans, the media attention, the all-star appearances. etc.

[jerryg]

Obviously the Sabres do allow access to players at various times, and that could be restricted. On the other hand ther ewould be nothing to stop members of the media form catching the players on their way in or out of practive everyday, in or out of a game day skate, into the game, etc and getting interviews

[Done]

PA....I went nuts over the Bandwagon a few weeks before Christmas. I was physically ill with the way the supposed fans of this team were acting. If you tried to point out a flaw, you were considered a party pooper or an ahole. Every time Campbell or Pominville would touch the puck, I would yell in my most feminine and sarcastic tone, "Soupy!!...Pommers!" I even bought the domain name Soupyandpommers.com to possibly set up a blog. Luckily, the air has started to leak out of the bubble and people are being more rational about the Sabres chances, which allowed me to regain my sanity.

 

Brian Campbell was a -14 last year and was scratched in favor of Rory Fitzpatrick during the first month of the season. He is a minus player the past 20 games this year. He is a great guy, but he isn't Bobby Orr...He isn't Paul Coffey....he isn't even Phil Housley.

 

I don't trust Darcy to make a big enough move to help us out. I am willing to trade any player on this team except Vanek or Afinogenov, unless I am wowed. I want to believe, but I can't.

[blugold43]

This has been brewing with me for most of the season. I, too, was caught up in the incredible start to the season and ate up the media attention that came with it. But it has continued on far too long, although it has started to subside a bit after the All-Star game and with the team's slide.

 

But today I'm seeing another story on Brian Campbell, and last night I saw the first in a series of player profiles on Channel 7 on how the players got their starts. It was on Danny Briere, and of course Danny himself was interviewed.

 

When is enough enough?

 

The publicity might be good for the Sabres, but they can't become any more popular than they already are. When does this PR avalanche start to hurt the team?

 

If I'm Darcy Regier, I start shutting it down right about now and get this team's head back where it belongs. Of course you can't tell a paper out West not to write a story about how there's "no rattling the Sabres" -- never get tired of that lovely cliche. But your media relations department can probably stop actively seeking out such attention. And hooking up the players, coaches, trainers and Sabretooth for interviews. Maybe it also would help if Lindy had a little talk with team and said to cool it.

 

Campbell's a good case in point. How many interviews do you think he has done this season about his "arrival" in the NHL? How many games has it been since he has played like an All Star? Twenty? Thirty? Coincidence?

 

I am wracking my brain over what's wrong with this team, and I can't find any better reason than the fact it's so young and getting so much undeserved praise and attention. I honestly believe it has gone to their heads, and I am starting to wonder if the Jack Adams Trophy and coaching in the All Star game also hasn't gone to Lindy's.

 

I'd like nothing more than to see this team get back under the radar, feel dissed and inadequate again. Unfortunately, I don't think, barring a total collapse, that they enter the playoffs other than the "favorites" to win the East.

 

With such a young team, with so much pressure to win, it's a recipe for disaster, IMHO.

you can't have it both ways. if a team is winning, it is just a matter of time before the media fawn all over them. when that happens, the players have to be ready to handle it. it's called being a grown-up.

 

rather than try to sanitize the situation and treat the players like babies who can't handle attention without getting soft, i'd prefer that the sabres let their players grow the hell up and deal with the attention, and STILL expect them play well.

 

if they don't have the maturity to pull that off, they're a flash in the pan anyway.

[BuffalOhio]

Also wondering if the old NHL is starting to creep back in and affecting the teams built on speed and finesse?

 

You're just starting to wonder that now? Have you watched any games? It's coming back, and it's coming back in a big way. So is the trap.

 

Yay! /sarcasm.

[Bmwolf21]

OK, you probably make a good point about the implausibility of denying interview requests. But can these requests be deterred? "You want Briere? His schedule is tight. How about 5 minutes the Tuesday after Ash Wednesday for five minutes?" :) It would help if the players got on board this effort. I would hope at this point maybe the players would even agree they have lost their focus and welcome the respite from all the attention.

 

Speaking of attention, it's not really the attention I am complaining about. It would be great to have all the attention and still be worthy of it. It's the loss of focus that I am complaining about, and I think it has something to do with all the side shows set up around this team -- the fans, the media attention, the all-star appearances. etc.

I see where you're coming from, with the loss of focus and all, but really, I think you're howling at the moon here. As I said, neither the team nor the league would allow them to restrict player availability like that. And as jerryg mentioned earlier, reporters will find a way to get their guys.

 

If guys like Drury and Briere can't help them keep their focus, then maybe they need a grizzled vet to come in and kick some of the young guys in the butt when they start losing focus and worrying about interviews and whatnot. FWIW, I think success, not the interviews by the Buffalo media, has gone to their heads.

 

Rather than limiting media access to the playres, how about this - why not have the Sabres PR department bring guys like you & Dwight out to meet the media, so you can cut the guys down to size a little and give them back their edge? :thumbsup: (just kidding)

 

you can't have it both ways. if a team is winning, it is just a matter of time before the media fawn all over them. when that happens, the players have to be ready to handle it. it's called being a grown-up.

 

rather than try to sanitize the situation and treat the players like babies who can't handle attention without getting soft, i'd prefer that the sabres let their players grow the hell up and deal with the attention, and STILL expect them play well.

 

if they don't have the maturity to pull that off, they're a flash in the pan anyway.

Damn straight. They can either grow up and deal with the increased attention now, or they can wait and be even more overwhelmed in the playoffs, since there should be more media attention on a team favored to win the Cup, versus one who surprised a lot of people last year.

 

The task of keeping these guys in check falls on the shoulders of Lindy and the coaching staff, as well as Drury, Briere & Teppo, and they need to find a way to get the dressing room's attention.

[Stoner]

you can't have it both ways. if a team is winning, it is just a matter of time before the media fawn all over them. when that happens, the players have to be ready to handle it. it's called being a grown-up.

 

rather than try to sanitize the situation and treat the players like babies who can't handle attention without getting soft, i'd prefer that the sabres let their players grow the hell up and deal with the attention, and STILL expect them play well.

 

if they don't have the maturity to pull that off, they're a flash in the pan anyway.

 

 

Well said!

[jerryg]

If players can;t keep their heads under the media spotlight in Buffalo, I hope none of them ever become UFA's and sign with Montreal, Toronto, NY or Boston...maybe LA would be a good place for a hockey player to not be noticed...