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Buffalo Sports
DON'T GET ME STARTED started on the front office some time ago (read previous articles) but the latest assault on the front office by fans is really something else.
Once Brian Campbell decided that there will be no use in conducting any talks/negotiations with Larry Quinn/Darcy Regier/Tom Golisano, the fan fury responded - big time.
Campbell said he would not discuss anything until after the season - which might be earlier than anyone expected considering the Sabres slide below the 8th spot in the Eastern Conference.
Targets? Larry Quinn #1; Tom Golisano #2; Darcy Regier #3. May I add that the criticism is more than justified considering how this trio handled the Grier-Briere-Drury situation a year ago, not to mention McKee and Dumont.
That Campbell "might" be leaving the Sabres is being generally accepted by the media - including Ed Kilgore of Channel 2 and Dennis Williams of Channel 4. They point to the July 1st date when free agency pops up. Yet, there are those who feel that the Sabres will be trading Campbell before the Frebruary 26th trading deadline where they would get "something" in return. That "something: will not nearly replace the at-his-peak talents of Campbell. The 28-year old is having another fine season - one that has him gong to the All-Star game for the second year in a row.
The problem with this Sabres front office has been viewed by many as one of arrogance. Many feel that Larry Quinn is calling all the shots so Regier can be cast aside as a loyal yes man to the two guys that really make up the power at the top, Quinn and Golisano.
There is that other problem that is creeping into the minds of the fans......"What message does the bungling at the top send to the other players." Certainly they weren't happy when Grier-Drury-Briere left because the top wouldn't negotiate with them in the early parts of last season. What can they be feeling? When the contracts of the likes of Conolloy, Afinogenov and others are due to expire will they do the same thing - wait for free agency and ponder the offers they will be getting from other teams? And let's not forget goalie Ryan Miller who will have a decision to make when his pact ends. These one-goal games and shoot-out losses weren't around a year ago when the Sabres had all the sharp-shooters before the "top tanked them. Miller could afford to give up 2 or 3 goals, knowing that Drury, Briere and others would score more.
Let's go back about a decade or so when John Rigas owned the team. If anything, Rigas wanted to hear from the fans. When he attended the games, he would walk around the concourse, speaking with fans; he would stand at the top of the lower bowl speaking, and asking questions, with the fans. He answered questions.
Now with so many questions pleading for answers, where is Golisano; where is Larry Quinn. What kind of a spin will they weave - that is if they will talk at all. And what about the fans. What about those many thousands who plunked 200 bucks for the right to be placed on the waiting list for season tickets.
The way things are going and the way stars are being shuffled off to other cities....there may not be much of a waiting list for season tickets. In fact, there is the possibility that the current crew at the top will be hoping for walk up sales. And everyone knows, prices are pretty stiff for many games.
I've been hoping that Quinn or Golisano would speak up, but the silence seems to bounce off the walls. If - and probably when - Campbell leaves, what kind of a marketing plan will they have for getting people into the Arena. MacArthur? Ryan? Pratt? Lydman?
Face it, the Sabres made a ton of money in 2006-2007 and they will still be counting the loot for 2007-2008. And how are the fans rewarded for that loyalty? They have to boo the players they cheered before the wallets were zipped in the Sabres board room and stars departed. Tom Golisano is getting a pretty good return on his investment with the sold out houses; the sale of merchandise; and the fact that the value of the franchise shot up.
This is the last time I'm going to write about the failure of the Quinn/Regier/Golisano combine that's whittled this team down to average. It's too frustrating to keep hearing how they seem to take advantage of the fans passion for the team - only to show more passion for all the $$$$$$$s on the bottom line. The bigger question has to be, "Are they committed to building a winner. If the history of the last 2 seasons is an example...don't bet on it on Don't Get Me Started.
© Copyright 2008 by Speakupwny.com
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