tonytalkssports My Take on Sports, particularly the Yankees, Maple Leafs and Browns

Jeanneret, Wilson, Game 7 & the Mets

Yesterday in Western New York, it was announced that Rick "Pork Chop" Jeanneret was going to scale back his announcing duties with the Buffalo Sabres to only home games and about 10 road games.  This was such big news in Fire City that its been on all the local television networks.  To me, its great news.  The only thing better would be if he was retiring.

In the interest of full disclosure, I am not a Sabres fan and so I have no particular affection for Jeanneret.  In fact, I can't watch a Sabres game when he broadcasts them.  His ridiculous screaming and big time homerism is beyond disgusting.  And I can honestly say I have never heard him be critical of the Sabres.  With Center Ice you are able to get many different NHL feeds.  Jeanneret is not alone.  Jack Edwards (Boston), Howie Rose (Islanders) and the "Chief" Bobby Taylor (Tampa Bay) are right up there with Pork Chop for being flat out terrible.  And just to be clear, Sam Rosen & Joe Michaletti (Rangers), Paul Steigerwald (Pittsburgh), Ken Daniels (Detroit) and John Forslund (Carolina) do a great job and are a pleasure to listen to even when they are playing the Leafs.  By the way, the first Sabres play-by-play man, Ted Darling was a consummate pro as opposed to the ridiculous Jeanneret.

In case you are wondering why I call Jeanneret Pork Chop its because it sounds like he has one stuck in his throat when he's screaming one of his ridiculous goal calls.

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An interesting column this morning in the Toronto Star by Damien Cox pertaining to the contract status of Ron Wilson.  I truly believed that Wilson would have been given a one year extension with the understanding that if the team started off badly Wilson would be replaced since MLSE would have no trouble eating a year of the extension.  But as Cox points out,  apparently ownership is not willing to do that and Brian Burke is reading the tea leaves after seeing what happened with the Raptors and Bryan Colangelo.

MLSE it seems is looking for results and Burke has done a very good job of turning the hockey team's roster over big time.  It's now going to be up to Wilson to get things going right from the start.  If the Leafs make the playoffs, Wilson will remain.  A slow start or failure to make the playoffs will mean a new man behind the Leafs bench.  Stay tuned.

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Tonight's Game 7 between Tampa Bay and Boston has all the makings of a classic.  I'm really looking forward to it as it will be interesting to see whether the Bruins will take advantage of home ice.  Tim Thomas could be the key to this game as he certainly has the ability to steal one for the Bruins.  The Lightning will be a challenge for the Bruin netminder in that Tampa has the better offensive talent.  Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis have been there before.  Must see TV tonight on Versus.  Thank God we don't have to put up with Jack Edwards.

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Finally, New York's other baseball team, the Mets, have become the latest baseball franchise that's turned into a circus as ownership has gone off the rails (Dodgers the other one. Nice job Mr. Selig).  The Wilpons have been treading water as they took a big hit financially when their buddy Bernie Madoff got pinched.  With financial troubles, the Mets have gone about the business of decimating the franchise.  Fred Wilpon has come out blasting Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and David Wright signaling that the fire sale could begin as early as July at the trade deadline.  There's no question Jose Reyes will no longer be a Met.  Beltran could be moved in July and Wright could also be traded.  If I were him, I would be hoping so.

As you know I am not a Met fan.  However, no fan should have to pay to watch the current edition of the New York Mets.  By the way, tickets to Citi Field are not cheap.  I envision plenty of empty seats throughout the summer.  If I said I was feeling sorry for them I'd be lying.  You reap what you sow.  Good luck Mr. Met!!!!