The response to Anthony's blog truly is astounding. I do not agree with Anthony at all, and in fact really enjoyed the downtown nightlife following Sabres/ Flyers playoff game last year. I honestly was amazed at how many sabres fans I saw at the local Bar I went to just a few blocks from the arena. It was a sea of fans in a rather trendy upscale establishment on Pearl St. I love Sabres fans. I find them to be among the most passionate and knowledgeable I get on HB. And that is not just PR.....trust me it is the truth.
But I don't think Anthony was taking shots at the fans of Buffalo in his story. I don't see that as being the issue. I know where Anthony is coming from, but I also know the immense pride that people from Buffalo have in their city. that passion is something I didn’t understand until I started this site and saw that Sabres fans are always among the top 5 readers of Hockeybuzz, and always #1 in the US.
I think that most of the people responding missed the point of Anthony's story, which was really more about fan voting than anything else. I don't agree with him there either.
It isn't the starters that the NHL will market going into the game. It is the stars. When the lines form on Tuesday to meet the players at the fancy hotel in Dallas, I seriously doubt that there will be more interest in players because they were named starters. Stars not starters sell the game.
Yes, the system is flawed, but in the end, "who cares?" The fact is this IS a game watched, enjoyed, and financed by fans. The customer is always right. And the fact that Sabres fans voted in their players just shows you how amazingly loyal they are. They should be rewarded for that.
Because in the end, it truly doesn't matter. They all deserved to be there, and even if Rory had gotten in, you can't tell me that he would have not been the hardest interview to get. I think how Rory handled the obviously bizarre situation would have been the story…Would he act ashamed, or would he say thanks to the fans for this? In interviews leading up to the moment of truth yesterday, I heard both sides from him. It is a tough spot to be in. It would have been the story. At the end of the day the NHL loved the Rory thing, even if they didn’t ever say it.
Join the Discussion:
»