Buffalo Sabres win + Rick Jeanneret & Jim Lorenz

by Steve

Is anyone else getting sick of these two? Rick Jenerette and Jim Lorenz, the voices of the Buffalo Sabres continue on a nightly bases to be as biased as any broadcasters in the history of broadcast sports. I understand being partial to the home town team, but these two take it to a different level. The word objectivity means nothing to them , especially Lorenz.

Tonight as the Buffalo Sabres squeak by the New Jersey Devils 4-3 at HSBC arena Rick & Jim were up to their old tricks. Ryan Miller aka God and/or God’s second son played a decently good game giving up his typical three goals a night. The first goal however, can or can not be seen as his fault. A shot was taken from the left wing on net, Miller makes the save however, leaves a huge rebound off to his right directly in front of the net. Controlling the rebound is difficult but still the goalies duty. A New Jersey player capitalizes and puts the puck into the back of the net. Riick and Jim’s response? One of several extremely popular phrases heard multiple times in any given Sabres broadcast:

1. Miller didn’t see it and or was screened.
2. The puck was tipped and Miller had no chance.
3. The defense needs to help out on that play.

If you guessed all three you were close, A and C are the correct answers as Lorenz uttered both as the game continued tied 1-1. Now this is expected if you watch the Sabres play, however what really eats me up is what followed. In the third period the game still tied 1-1a shot is fired on the Devil’s net from the same left side of the ice as the Sabres goal. Brodeur continues to make the original save but leaves the exact same rebound in the exact same spot as Paille puts the puck over a sprawling Martin Brodeur to take the lead. What was shocking was Lorenz’s commentary after this goal. “That is just awful goaltending” Awful? The exact same play but because it wasn’t a Sabre it is “awful”? Its getting embarrassing..

Lets just hope no one starts a real drinking game for every time Miller gives up a goal and either A. B. or C. are uttered from the Sabres’ broadcasters because deaths may ensue.

Furthermore, everyone in every city rooting for any teams complains about the refs, "Rick and Jim" are not abstained from this practice either. Routinely can you hear one or the other huffing and puffing about a blown call or outright complaint about the referees. There are only human, if you were being screwed you wouldn't be in first place. Quit the crying and huffing and puffing after every check Rick and Jim are suppose to be professionals, its kind of sad really. OHHHH HE WAS HAULED DOWN.. NO CALL!! Yeah and the same thing didn't just happen in the other end.

On a brighter note, the Sabres take a strangle hold on the Northeastern Division as Ottawa lost to Boston last night and the Sabres furthered their cause of the Eastern Conference crown and perhaps the Presidents Trophy for most points.