30 replies to this topic

[SDS]

I normally don't complain too much about announcers, etc... but I often wonder about the value Mike brings to the table. For a "guy who played the game", his analysis just flows as one long-winded, cliche-filled "fan speak" session.

Does anyone extract any value from his contributions?

[Claude_Verret]

SDS, on 23 January 2013 - 09:37 AM, said:

I normally don't complain too much about announcers, etc... but I often wonder about the value Mike brings to the table. For a "guy who played the game", his analysis just flows as one long-winded, cliche-filled "fan speak" session.

Does anyone extract any value from his contributions?

He has lost some of his flair from back in the day.  There was a clear point in time back when he was the color guy that he got muzzled.  He used to come out with a classic Roby-isms at least once or twice a game.  Then one day they just stopped cold.

[Eleven]

SDS, on 23 January 2013 - 09:37 AM, said:

I normally don't complain too much about announcers, etc... but I often wonder about the value Mike brings to the table. For a "guy who played the game", his analysis just flows as one long-winded, cliche-filled "fan speak" session.

Does anyone extract any value from his contributions?

Lately, I think you're right.

I remember the last season on Empire, the Sabres were in a long winless streak, and he looked into the camera after the game and said something like, "I just can't do this anymore."  He genuinely looked frustrated.

I'm not sure we get that kind of authenticity anymore.

[Sabres Fan In NS]

Over the years I never saw any value added by any of the analysts.  And not just the Sabres'.

IMO, they are just there to fill in time when the play stops, so the play-by-play guys can get a break from talking.

They like to hear themselves talk and sound as if they know something, but it doesn't really work for me.

[wonderbread]

I've always like Roby. Found his commentary to be interesting. He seems to have lost his edge. Maybe it was the accident a few years back.

[weave]

wonderbread, on 23 January 2013 - 11:12 AM, said:

I've always like Roby. Found his commentary to be interesting. He seems to have lost his edge. Maybe it was the accident a few years back.

I always liked that in the past he was willing to be as critical as the situation required.  And he had good insight into game tactics.

IIRC correctly he missed most of last season due to his accident, right?  And I don't have access to MSG this season so I haven't seen Roby's analysis in some time.

[TrueBluePhD]

Claude_Verret, on 23 January 2013 - 09:40 AM, said:

He has lost some of his flair from back in the day.  There was a clear point in time back when he was the color guy that he got muzzled.  He used to come out with a classic Roby-isms at least once or twice a game.  Then one day they just stopped cold.

This is pretty much how I feel.  I don't know what changed or why it did, but something did, and the new Roby is significantly less insightful and entertaining.

[wyldnwoody44]

Idk, just I listened to Roby radio this morning and found it to be decent, honest. He always tells it like he sees it I think. There are much worse out there

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

Eleven, on 23 January 2013 - 09:43 AM, said:

Lately, I think you're right.

I remember the last season on Empire, the Sabres were in a long winless streak, and he looked into the camera after the game and said something like, "I just can't do this anymore." He genuinely looked frustrated.

I'm not sure we get that kind of authenticity anymore.

Bingo.

He reminds me of myself. Imagine how critical I would have been the past few years if i relied on the Sabres organization for my salary. He has been frustrated, trust me.

That being said, he is older and has gone through a lot of stuff recently. I think he and Ted Darling as a combo were by far the best there was for the Sabres. I swear Roby would be nipping when they went to Boston and he was just the funniest for those games.

[rbochan]

"I tell you, Rick, he went down like a stack of wet dishes."

[Claude_Verret]

Look at Mike Cvik, I've seen more meat on a butchers apron.

[PASabreFan]

Just a hunch, but maybe Mike isn't too happy to be sitting next to Kevin. Mike and Brian Blessing had a great thing going.

Roby's a treasure. Probably just slowing down.

[inkman]

He's still like a hounds breakfast on a Brillo pad.

[Claude_Verret]

The Roby of old will never be back. Can you imagine him saying today "You know, someone has to remind Drew Stafford that this game isn't played by little boys in short pants."  He wasn't afraid to skewer anyone and make non-PC comments back in the old days, but it's clear to me that he was told to cut that stuff out at some point.

[PASabreFan]

Claude_Verret, on 23 January 2013 - 03:55 PM, said:

The Roby of old will never be back. Can you imagine him saying today "You know, someone has to remind Drew Stafford that this game isn't played by little boys in short pants."  He wasn't afraid to skewer anyone and make non-PC comments back in the old days, but it's clear to me that he was told to cut that stuff out at some point.

Queersville has also been removed from the maps.

[Spndnchz]

Found this.  http://forums.sabres...ike-robitaille/

[Claude_Verret]

I believe I've asked this before on here, but does anyone remember the old "Ed and the boys" show on Channel 2 after the news at 11?  Maybe it was just a segment on the old Sports Extra show that they used to do, I don't quite remember.  But during Sabres season it would be Kilgore, Robitaille, Lorentz, Ted Darling and maybe Stu Boyar having a round table discussion.  But it looked like they were in a friggin' police interrogation room with the darkened room and the bright light above the table.  Roby would chain smoke for the entire show and throw out classic quips left and right.  It was great stuff.  I'm thinking 1985-ish time frame. Does anyone recall this?

[MattPie]

Spndnchz, on 23 January 2013 - 04:27 PM, said:

Found this.  http://forums.sabres...ike-robitaille/

Link fail..

[Claude_Verret]

PASabreFan, on 23 January 2013 - 04:23 PM, said:

Queersville has also been removed from the maps.

Yes, forgot about that one.

[Spndnchz]

MattPie, on 23 January 2013 - 04:41 PM, said:

Link fail..

Dangit!  Hold on...

[nobody]

If I owned WGR - I'd give those 2 hours that Kevin Sylvester has to Roby in a heartbeat.

[Spndnchz]

I can change the space - time continuum.. It's gone.  POOF!  Highlight:  Claude had a list of Robitaille quotes. (it was from 2006)

[Ghost of Dwight Drane]

PASabreFan, on 23 January 2013 - 03:39 PM, said:

Just a hunch, but maybe Mike isn't too happy to be sitting next to Kevin. Mike and Brian Blessing had a great thing going.

Roby's a treasure. Probably just slowing down.

Blessing was the perfect straight-man for him. Both of those guys are huge into horseracing and I have chatted with them both over the years, but never together. I'd open up a tab just to get them rolling at the same time if I could.

[rbochan]

http://forums.sabres...1849-roby-isms/

[Claude_Verret]

I know that I still have that list stashed somewhere. There were like 40-50 quotes on it.

[Spndnchz]

rbochan, on 23 January 2013 - 05:44 PM, said:

http://forums.sabres...1849-roby-isms/

Not the one but good find.

[Claude_Verret]

Claude_Verret, on 23 January 2013 - 04:40 PM, said:

I believe I've asked this before on here, but does anyone remember the old "Ed and the boys" show on Channel 2 after the news at 11?  Maybe it was just a segment on the old Sports Extra show that they used to do, I don't quite remember.  But during Sabres season it would be Kilgore, Robitaille, Lorentz, Ted Darling and maybe Stu Boyar having a round table discussion.  But it looked like they were in a friggin' police interrogation room with the darkened room and the bright light above the table.  Roby would chain smoke for the entire show and throw out classic quips left and right.  It was great stuff.  I'm thinking 1985-ish time frame. Does anyone recall this?

Nobody?  Somebody has to have a copy of one of these shows on a VHS tape in their attic somewhere in Buffalo.  If you miss Hockey Hotline, your head would explode watching Ed and the boys.

I did find this.  It's mostly the watered down Roby, but still some good stuff here and there.

[weave]

Claude_Verret, on 24 January 2013 - 09:09 AM, said:

Nobody? Somebody has to have a copy of one of these shows on a VHS tape in their attic somewhere in Buffalo. If you miss Hockey Hotline, your head would explode watching Ed and the boys.

I did find this. It's mostly the watered down Roby, but still some good stuff here and there.

I remember it being on. Recall the adverts for it anyway. Never watched it though.

[Claude_Verret]

weave, on 24 January 2013 - 09:18 AM, said:

I remember it being on. Recall the adverts for it anyway. Never watched it though.

Ok thanks for confirming that I'm not going crazy.  My friends and I would watch that show religiously.

[weave]

Claude_Verret, on 24 January 2013 - 09:40 AM, said:

Ok thanks for confirming that I'm not going crazy. My friends and I would watch that show religiously.

IIRC it was on after the 11 oclock news on Sundays?



BTW- I'm not confirming your sanity. I'm betting that you may very well be nucking futz but remember this just fine.

Edited by weave, 24 January 2013 - 10:23 AM.

[Claude_Verret]

weave, on 24 January 2013 - 10:23 AM, said:

IIRC it was on after the 11 oclock news on Sundays?

Yes, that's right.

Quote

BTW- I'm not confirming your sanity. I'm betting that you may very well be nucking futz but remember this just fine.

You are correct, it's more likely than not that in the big picture I'm completely out of my mind, but I've got to hold onto every little piece that I can.