Buftex

Yeah, you are right...didn't even really think of that scenario. I suppose, if team Pegula didn't want to use Neale, they could have just canned him...the money wasn't likely a factor. I kind of liked the old-timer feel he lent to the broadcasts, but I never felt that his knowledge of the Buffalo Sabres was more than surface, hence, the filler stuff that he usually spoke. As the linked Pergament column points out, he did have a good sense of humor. But even there, I think RJ has always had a sort of sublime sense of humor. RJ isn't the demented "puck-head" that he sometimes sounds like...he is actually pretty witty in ways that I am sure everyone does not pick up on. I think he and Neale just never had much chemestry in that area. It's weird. I moved away from Buffalo in 1988, so for most of my life, Ted Darling was the "voice of the Buffalo Sabres", while Van Miller the "voice of the Buffalo Bills". When I was a kid, if you had to hear Van Miller doing Bills games (or Braves games for that matter), or Rick Jeanerett doing Sabres games, it meant, basically, you were listening to them on the radio, and couldn't see them on tv. That never made me happy. So, I never appreciated RJ as much at that time...or Van Miller for that matter. Not to take anything away from Murphy, as I realize he has been involved with Bills radio, in some form or another for a long time, but I don't really hear anything very distinctive about the Bills radio broadcasts any more. When I hear the odd radio highlight on ESPN, or something, I have to listen really close to tell if it is Murphy, or the other teams announcing team.

What is that?

Shoot, us old-timers will just have to settle for wireless internet connections and rabbit ears!

I would definitley see that as a demotion...plus, they say Ray is only going to be in the booth with Jeanerret for road games....RJ goes solo at home. That is not a ringing endorsement of Gare, Roby, or Neale. Wonder why they are scrapping Neale...like I said, I can take him or leave him, but he is a well regarded color guy, at least in Canada. It seems like they must have him under contract, but don't really want him? I have heard rumors that he and RJ are not exactly besties. Just strange. I agree with you... I think Sylvester did a credible job filling in for RJ. He is no RJ, but if, like me, you watch your hockey via Center Ice, and you hear some of the other broadcast teams throughout the league, you realize, the Sabres broadcast team has been pretty solid. Danny Gare, IMO, was one who got better the more games he did. He had some good insights, but sometimes took too long to make his point. He got better as the season went on.

Can you give us the shorthand...3 million words (and 2 emoticons) or less!

John Murphy and Jim Kelly are buying the Buffalo Bills!

If I am not mistaken, there were rumors of the Heat being interested in Allen before...it makes sense for them...but it would kill me to see him go there... FWIW...I kind of get the feeling that Allen, and Garnett, would love to stay in Boston, and might take the hometown discount to do so...emotinally a great move...but not sure if it only delays the inevitable. If they can't lure any younger talent there, it would just be more valient efforts, and coming up short. I really do think Garnett will stay. http://www.nesn.com/2012/06/ray-allen-calls-it-a-privilege-to-play-for-celtics-as-he-faces-uncertain-future.html

So, is Sylevester's radio show replacing Cowherds' show? That would be outstanding! Not a huge fan of Harry Neale either, though I can tolerate him. He doesn't seem especially attuned to the Sabres. Only thing that worries me a little, Rob Ray has a brutal voice. I think he is actually pretty funny, but hopefully he takes some diction classes, or something. Just take a breath now and again Rob, and remember, speak from your throat, not your nose! Any plan that involved less Colin Cowherd has got to be a good one. But, I have to ask, if Sylevesters' show is slated to start June 18th (presumably for the NHL draft), isn't that an awful lot of time to devote to Sabres hockey talk, in the off season? I realize, Buffalo loves the Sabres...but that is a lot of time to fill. Almost 4 months of off-season talk? The sense I get, when I listen to GR now, is that while the fans are really supportive of the Sabres, there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of knowledge about other teams in the league. It almost seems like Sylvester (who I think is pretty good) is being set up for failure on this one. Any word on a daily Bills show? Any changes in their game day broadcasts?

I saw her years ago, when she was trying to do a more commercial country act...she wasn't awful. I see that her new album is produced by T Bone Burnett...I realize, he has his fingers in everything these days, but he doesn't normally mess with crappy artists.

Going to see my buddy, Bruce Robison, and his wife Kelly Willis tonight...he is one of the best country song-writers around today, and she has one of the most beautiful voices, ever...funny little clip:

Huh? I am the most intellectual person I know! I think the NPR article nails it for me... the ads portray a dreary, Serling like future... On Friday night, I took my gf out for dinner... not a super expensive joint, but not a cheap one either... at the table next to us, there were 3 late-20 somethings...two guys, one girl. They spent nearly the whole time we were sitting next to them (at least half an hour) with each of them holding their iPhones (or whatever the fug they are) in front of their faces...their conversation was minimal...they barely looked at each other the whole time...but they did take a few pictures, to capture, forever, their unbelievably good time. It was just depressing. For some reason, those Malkovich commercials, to me, are sad...

Great finale. Seems like Don may go back to his old ways, or will he? Getting dressed down my Mrs. Price seemed a bit sobering. Not sure what to make of the whole Megan story line. Is she supposed to be good, or no? Can't really tell...as smart as she is, it seems Don isn't all "in" with her chosen profession...he seems to be longing for some real happiness. Not sure if he is going to get it with the new marriage. The only thing that was a little..uh.."off" to me, was the whole thing with Pete and the mistress. It just didn't seem to fit...almost like they had to fit that story in, to illustrate how unhappy Pete really is. But, is he any different than anyone else on the show (except maybe Cosgrove, and a hallucinating Roger?), in that regards? Loved the choice of "You Only Live Twice" for the seasons' swan song. Kind of strange, I suppose, to use a song so identified with James Bond, but the lyrics seem to fit Don Draper (and Peter Campbell) better than Bond.

Mavs might not be a bad match for KG Like inkman says, it would make an old team older...but the window for all those guys is going to close sooner than later. If they added KG and some other pieces, he could be a valuable contributer. Rumor has it the Spurs might be very interested in Garnett, if he hits free-agency. Personally, I would love for the Celtics to keep Garnett... they need to get younger, but I still think, with Pierce, Garnett and Rondo, they can make a decent playoff run...barring injuries, hard to imagine the Heat and Thunder not dominating the two conferences for the forseeable future. Maybe holding on to old vets so, with your best hope is to make it to the semi-finals is kind of backwards thinking...but from the early 90's to 2007, the Celtics were absolute garbage for the most part...Pierce and Antowan Walker were the only two higher caliber players to emerge from the Celtics franchise in all that time. And, in retrospect, they had some good talent coming in and out of Boston all those years, they just never excelled until they went to other teams...a guy like Rondo, in my opinion, would probably be a fringe player, at best, right now (or possibly out of the league) if he had come around during those dark years. It is good for young guys to be around guys who know how to win.

I know the C's were old, but Garnett had a decent season, and a great playoff...I don't think he is done at all. He will play somewhere next season...he still has game left. Allen is the one that is hard to read...he really did not have a great playoff, but has broken bones in his ankle. My hunch is, Garnett comes back to Boston, with Pierce and Rondo, and Ray Allen ends up somewhere back in the Western Conference... a guy with his perimeter shooting skills (when healthy) would be a nice piece to have for a team that is on the brink of being really good...maybe Denver? Lakers? Garnett would be a great fit for the Lakers, but that would be hard for me to watch. Miami and OKC should make a great final. Two young, athletic teams.. I will be pulling for Perkins and the Thunder...

I would stick up for KG and Rondo just like I stuck up for LeBron a few years ago, when this was a big "to do". I think all the pro sports make a mistake in forcing, or expecting their athletes or coaches, to react immediately after a win or loss. They are only asking for trouble, from a PR perspective. This was a hard faught series...one team (Miami) had the weight of the world on their shoulders, while the other was being disregarded since the begininig of the playoffs. Both teams have a lot of pride. I am sure Rondo and Garnett were devistated by the loss... just as James was a few years ago... they compete hard, and some guys (some of the greatest in all sports) have said that they have to view their oppenant as their enemy. You would rarely see Garnett or Rondo being buddy-buddy on the court with players from other teams, like so many players are nowadays. It isn't their style, and likely what makes fans of other teams hate them so much... and it is also a big part of what makes them great players. If you watched the press conferences afterwards, Rondo, at least (didn't see Garnett) repeated over and over that Miami was a great team, but you could tell he was still stinging from the loss.

I think most, at this point, particularly if they know somebody linked to the Bills organization, accept the fact that the Bills future is not as un-settled as we are lead to believe.

Agreed!

Damn...end of an era... Gimmie OKC in six!

As great as Lebron played in game six, the Celtics had lots of great shot opportunities in that game...they just didn't hit them...that game could have been far different...C's are hitting them tonight. This 3rd Qtr is huge.

Demitri Martin is really funny, without being crude...

My dad always said Red Grange was the best athlete ever...he never lied to me before...and it's almost Father's Day...so it's gotta be Red Grange.

What I find so funny, the media (okay, ESPN especially) kind of forces all of their talking heads to take some sort of stance on whatever the last thing that happened was. So, Miami got pummelled for nearly 48 hours, for losing 3 straght playoff games to an inferior oppenant...then, they blow Boston out, Lebron has a game for the ages, and then they same idiots "lecture" people about being "haters" and "doubters". I obviously want Boston to win tomorrow night, and the way James left Cleveland was a big turn-off for me, as I really liked him before that. But all this "choker" stuff in nonsense. I am not ready to say he is the greatest NBA basketball player of all time...but he is damn good...I don't think any team wouldn't want him...hell, even the Cavs would take him back in a heartbeat. He is young, and growing up. All in all, he represents himself, and his team well.

Not necessary.

Are we actually talking about Bob Welch?

Yes, well aware of Charles Whitman story...I work in the shadow of the UT Tower, every day. Leon Payne, in fact, lived in Austin, and attended the Texas School for the Blind. I was just goofing on the legend that he didn't want it recorded until he was dead...though Eddie Noack recorded it in 1968...Payne died in 1969. http://www.rocksbackpagesblogs.com/2009/06/you-think-im-psycho-dont-you-mama-origins-of-a-hit/